UC-NRLF 


GIFT  OF 
A  .V .Stubenrauch 


r 


EVERY   LADY 


ADDRESSED    TO    THE 

INDUSTRIOUS  AND  ECONOMICAL. 

CONTAINING 

SIMPLE  AND  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS 

FOE 

CULTIVATING  PLANTS  AND  FLOWERS 

IN  THE  GAKDEN  AND  IN  ROOMS. 


BY  LOUISA  JOHNSON. 

"~         4 

Revised  from  the  Fourteenth  London  Edition,  and  Adapted  to  th» 
USE  OF  AMERICAN  LADIES. 


C.  M.  S  A  XT  ON,    PUBLISHER,' 

25    PARK    ROW,    NEW    YORK, 

1863. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852,  by 

C.  M.  SAXTON, 

<n  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  tor  the  Souinern 
MstrictofNewYork. 


PUBLISHER'S  ADVERTISEMENT 


THE  Publisher,  having  found  the  want  of  small,  cheap  Books,  of 
acknowledged  merit,  on  the  great  topics  of  farming  economy,  and 
meeting  for  those  of  such  a  class  a  constant  demand,  oft'ers,  in  his 
Rural  Handh'^ks,  of  which  this  is  one,  vrorks  calculated  to  fill  the 
void. 

He  trusts  that  a  discerning  Public  will  both  buy  and  read  these 
little  Treatises,  so  admirably  adapted  to  all  classes,  and  fitted  by 
their  size  for  the  pocket,  and  thus  readable  at  the  fireside,  on  the 
roftd:  and  in  sh  Drt  everywhere. 

C.  M.  SAXTON, 

Book  Publisher. 


466918 


I  HATK  been  induced  to  compile  this  little  work  from  hearing  many  of  my 
companions  regret  that  no  single  book  contained  a  sufficiently  condensed  and 
general  account  of  the  business  of  a  Flower  Garden.  "  We  require,"  they 
said,  "a  work  in  a  small  compass,  which  will  enable  us  to  become  our  own 
gardener;  we  wish  to  know  how  to  set  about  everything  ourselves,  without 
expense,  without  being  deluged  with  Latin  words  and  technical  terms,  and 
without  being  obliged  to  pick  our  way  through  multiplied  publications,  re- 
dolent of  descriptions,  and  not  always  particularly  lucid.  We  require  a 

practical  work,  telling  us  of  useful  flowers,  simple  mode?  of  rearing  them, 

* 

simply  expressed,  and  free  from  lists  of  plants  and  roots  jvhich  require  ex- 
pensive methods  of  preservation.  Some  of  us  have  gardens,  but  we  cannot 
afford  a  gardener;  we  like  flowers,  but  we  cannot  attempt  to  take  more 
than  common  pains  to  raise  them.  We  require  to  know  the  hardiest  flowers, 
and  to  comprehend  the  general  business  of  the  garden,  undisturbed  by  fear 
of  failure,  and  at  the  most  economical  scale  of  expense.  Who  will  write  u§ 
such  a  book  ? >; 


VI  PREFACE. 

I  have  endeavored  to  meet  their  views ;  and  my  plan  01  Floriculture  may 
be  carried  into  effect  by  any  lady  who  can  command  the  services  of  an  old 
man,  a  woman,  or  a  stout  boy.  In  the  present  Edition,  the  publishers  have 
added  a  paper  on  WINDOW  GARDENING,  written  by  Mr.  M'Intosh — and 
another  on  DOMESTIC  GREENHOUSES,  an  apparatus  by  which  a  small  collec- 
tion of  exotics  may  be  given  in  great  perfection,  and  by  a  process  which 
any  lady  may  superintend  with  much  gratification.  In  every  other  respect 
the  work  is  the  result  of  my  own  experience,  and  I  dedicate  it  to  all  of  ir  y 
own  sex  who  delight  in  flowers,  and  yet  cannot  allow  themselves  t«  entei 
i»to  great  expense  in  their  cultivation. 

LOUISA  JOHNSON. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  1. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Pleasures  of  Gardening — How  conducive  to  health — Early  taste  for 
Gardening  in  England — Pleasure-gardens  at  Theobalds — Garden- 
ing for  Ladies 9 

CHAPTER  II. 

4 
GENERAI    HE.MARKS. 

Situation  for  a  Flower-garden — On  improving  tbe  Soil — Aspect  and 
choice  of  Flowers— Monthly  Roses — Rustic  Stages— Garden  Tool* 
and  Working  Dress — India-rubber  Shoes  indispensable 13 

CHAPTER  ill. 

LAVING  OUT. 

Arrangement  of  Plants — RooVhouses — Annuals — Biennials — Perennials 
— Planting  out  Beds — Amelioration  of  Soils — Monthly  Lists  of 
Flowers — Destructive  habits  of  Hares  and  Rabbits — Snails,  Ear- 
wigs, Mildew  and  Blight — Neatness  and  order  indispensable  in  a 
well-kept  Garden — Spring  Plants — List  of  Perennials 18 

CHAPTER  IV. 

BULBS  AND  PERENNIALS. 

Transplanting  Bulbs — Advantage  of  Salt  Manures — Best  arrangement 
for  choice  Bulbs — Select  Lists — Fibrous-rooted  Flowers — Biennials 
— Their  Propagation — Protection  necessary 36 

CHAPTER  V 


Sowing  and  gathering  Seed — Training  and  trimming  Plants — List  of 
Annuals 


VT11  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ROSES  AND  JASMINES. 

Po*try  of  Flowers-  -Varieties  of  Roses — Pyramids — Climbing  Varieties 
Inserts  injurious  to  the  Rose — List  of  Roses— Luxuriant  appearance 
of  the  Jasmine — Devices  for  displaying  its  beauty 62 

CHAPTER  VIL 

SHRUBS  AND  EVERGREENS. 

On  Planting — Distance  between  each — Various  modes  of  Propagating — 

List  of  best  Garden  Sorts — Pruning 69 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

ON   HOUSE  AND  WINDOW  GARDENING. 

Plants  proper  for  Window  Culture — Treatment  of  House  Plants — Mode 
«         of  Supply — Bulbs  in  Glasses — Nosegays  and  cut  Flowers — Diseases 

of  Plants '. 70 

CHAPTER  IX. 

DOMESTIC    GREENHOUSES. 

Form  of  Apparatus — Preparing  the  Soil — Draining— Principles  tithe 
Invention — Situation  of  Plants  . . .  91 

CHAPTER  x.* 

MONTHLY  NOTICES. 

Recapitulation  of  Work  to  be  done  in  each  Month 103 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

has  been  well  remarked  that  a  garden  affords  the  purest  ol 
human  pleasures.  The  study  of  Nature  is  interesting  in  all 
her  manifold  combinations :  in  her  wildest  attitudes,  and  in 
her  artful  graces.  The  mind  is  amused,  charmed,  and  astonished 
in  turn,  with  contemplating  her  inexhaustible  display;  and  we  wor- 
ship the  God  who  created  such  pure  and  simple  blessings  for  his 
creatures.  These  blessings  are  open  to  all  degrees  and  conditions 
of  men.  Nature  is  not  a  boon  bestowed  upon  the  high-born,  ur 
purchased  by  the  wealthy  at  a  kingly  price.  The  poor,  the  blind. 
the  halt,  and  the  diseased,  enjoy  her  beauty,  and  derive  benerit 
from  her  study.  Every  cottager  enjoys  the  little  garden  which 
furnishes  his  table  with  comforts,  and  his  mind  with  grateful  fefel- 
ings,  if  that  mind  is  susceptible  of  religious  impressions.  He 
contemplates  the  gracious  Providence  which  has  bestowed  such 
means  of  ^enjoyment  upon  him,  as  the  Father  whose  all-seeing 
eye  provides  for  the  lowliest  of  his  children  ;  and  who  has  placed 
the  "  purest  of  human  pleasures  "  within  the  reach  of  all  whc  are 
not  too  blind  to  behold  his  mercy.  With  this  blessed  view  before 
his  mental  sight,  the  cottager  cultivates  his  little  homestead.  The 
flowers  and  fruits  of  the  earth  bud,  bloom,  and  decay  in  their 
season ;  but  Nature  igain  performs  her  deputed  mission,  and 
1* 


10  LADIES'  FLOWEK  GARDENER. 

spring  succeeds  the  dreary  winter  with  renewed  beauty  and  two- 
fold increase.  Health  accompanies  simple  and  natural  pleasures. 
The  culture  of  the  ground  affords  a  vast  and  interminable  field  of 
observation,  in  which  the  mind  ranges  with  singular  pleasure, 
though  the  body  travels  not.  It  surrounds  home  with  an  un- 
ceasing interest ;  domestic  scenes  become  endeared  to  the  eye 
and  mind ;  worldly  cares  recede ;  and  we  may  truly  say — 

"  For  us  kind  Nature  wakes  her  genial  power, 
Suckles  each  herb,  and  spreads  out  every  flower  J 
Annual  for  us,  the  grape,  the  rose,  renew 
The  juice  nectarious.  and  the  balmy  dew : 
For  us,  the  mine  a  tnousand  treasures  brings ; 
For  us,  health  gushes  from  a  thousand  springs." 

Eth.  ep.  i.  ver.  129. 

•The  taste  for  gardening  in  England  began  to  display  itself  in 
the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  in  whose  time  the  first  work  on  the 
subject  was  composed  by  Walter  de  Henly.  Flower-gardening 
followed  slowly  in  its  train.  The  learned  Linacre,  who  died  in 
1524,  introduced  the  damask  rose  from  Italy  into  England.  King 
James  I.  of  Scotland,  when  a  prisoner  in  Windsor  Castle,  thus 
describes  its  "  most  faire  "  garden : — 

"  Now  was  there  maide  fast  by  the  towns  wall, 
A  garden  faire,  and  in  the  corneris  set 

An  herbere  green,  with  wandis  long  and  small 
Railit  about, -and  so  with  treeis  set 
Was  all  the  place,  and  hawthorn  hedges  knet, 
That  lyfe  was  now,  walking, there  forbye, 
That  might  within  scarce  any  wight  espie, 

So  thick  the  bowis  and  the  leves  grene 

Bercandit  all,  the  alleyes  all  that  there  were; 

And  myddis  every  herbere  might  be  sene 
The  scharpe  grene  swete  junipere 
Growing  so  fair,  with  branches  h^re  and  there, 
That,  as  it  seymt  to  a  lyfe  without, 
The  bowis  spred  the  herbere  all  about." 

The  Quair. 

Henry  VIII.  ordered  the  formation  of  his  garden  at  Nonsuch 
about,  the  year   1509,  and  Loland  says  it  was  a  "  Nonpareil." 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

Hentyner  assures  us  of  its  perfect  beauty,  describing  one  oi  its 
marble  basins  as  being  set  round  with  "  lilac  trees,  which  trees 
bear  no  fruit,  but  only  a  pleasant  smell." 

The  pleasure-gardens  at  Theobalds,  the  seat  of  Lord  Burleigh, 
were  unique,  ace  )rding  to  the  report  of  Lyson.  In  it  were  nine 
knots  exquisitely  made,  one  of  which  was  set  forth  in  likeness  of 
the  king's  arms.  "  One  might  walk  two'myle  in  the  walks  before 
ke  came  to  an  end." 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  extremely  fond  of  flowers,  and  her  taste 
ever  influenced  that  of  her  court.  Gilliflowers,  carnations,  tulips, 
Provence  and  musk  roses,  were  brought  to  England  in  her  reign. 

William  III.  loved  a  pleasaunce  or  pleasure-garden;  but  he 
introduced  the  Dutch  fashion  of  laying  them  out,  which  is  still 
horrible  in  our  eyes.  His  Queen  superintended  in  person  all  her 
arrangements  in  the  flower-garden, — an  amusement  particularly 
delightful  to  her.  In  those  days,  "  knottes  and  mazes  "  were  no 
longer  the  pride  of  a  parterre,  with  a  due  allowance  of  "  pleasant 
and  fair  fishponds." 

Queen  Anne  remodeled  the  gardens  at  Kensington,  and  did 
away  with  the  Dutch  inventions.  Hampton  Court  was  also  laid 
out  in  a  more  perfect  state  in  her  reign,  under  the  direction  of 
Wise. 

Since  that  period,  flower-gardening  has  progressed  rapidly; 
and  the  amusement  of  floriculture  has  become  the  dominant  /as- 
sion  of  the  ladies  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  a  passion  most  blessed 
in  its  effects,  considered  as  an  amusement  or  a  benefit:  Nothing 
humanizes  and  adorns  the  female  mind  more  surely  than  a  taste 
for  ornamental  gardening.  It  compels  the  reason  to  act,  and  the 
judgment  to  observe;  it  is  favorable  to  meditation  of  the  most 
serious  kind  ;  it  exercises  the  fancy  in  harmless  and  elegant  occu- 
pation, and  braces  the  system  by  its  healthful  tendency.  A 
flower-garden,  to  the  young  and  single  of  my  sex,  acts  upon  the 


12  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

heart  and  affections  as  a  nursery  acts  upon  the  matronly  feelings. 
It  attaches  them  to  their  home ;  it  throws  a  powerful  charm  over 
the  spot  dedicated  to  such  deeply-interesting  employment ;  and 
it  lures  them  from  dwelling  too  deeply  upon  the  unavoidable  dis- 
appointments and  trials  of  life,  which  sooner  or  later  disturb  and 
disquiet  the  heart. 

An  amusement  whicL*  kings  and  princes  have  stamped  with 
dignity,  and  which  has  afforded  them  recreation  under  the  toils 
of  government,  must  become  for  ever  venerated,  and  will  be 
sought  for  by  every  elegant  as  well  as  by  every  scientific  mind. 
Floriculture  ranges  itself  under  the  head  of  female  accomplish- 
ments in  these  our  days ;  and  we  turn  with  pity  from  the  spirit 
which  will  not  find  in  her  "  garden  of  roses  "  the  simplest  aod 
purest  of  pleasures. 


GENERAL  REMARKS.  18 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL   REMAKES. 

the  laying  out  of  a  garden,  the  soil  and  situation  must  be 
considered  as  much  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  will  admit. 
Let  no  lady,  however,  despair  of  being  able  to  raise  fine  flow- 
ers upon  any  soil,  providing  the  sun  is  not  too  much  excluded,  for 
the  rays  of  the  sun  are  the  vital  principle  of  existence  to  all  vege 
tation.  The  too  powerful  rays  can  be  warded  off  by  the  arts  of  in- 
vention, but  we  have  yet  no  substitute  for  that  glorious  orb.  Unless 
its  warm  and  forcing  influence  is  allowed  to  extend  over  the  surface 
of  the  garden,  all  flowers  wither,  languish,  and  die.  Sun  and  air 
are  the  lungs  and  heart  of  flowers.  A  lady  will  be  rewarded  for 
her  trouble  in  making  her  parterre  in  the  country ;  but  in  large 
towns,  under  the  influence  of  coal  smoke,  shade,  and  gloom,  her 
lot  will  be  constant  disappointment.  She  can  only  hope  to  keep 
a  few  consumptive  geraniums  languishing  through  the  summer 
months,  to  die  in  October,  and  show  the  desolating  view  of  rows 
of  pots  containing  blackened  and  dusty  stems. 

Many  soils  which  are  harsh  or  arid,  are  susceptible  of  improve- 
ment by  a  little  pains.  Thus,  a  stiff  clay,  by  digging  well  and 
leaving  it  to  become  pulverized  by  the  action  of  the  frost,  and 
then  mixing  plenty  of  ashes  with  it,  becomes  a  fine  mould,  which 
]  have  ever  found  most  excellent  for  all  flowers  of  the  hardier 
kind.  The  black  soil  is  the  richest  in  itself,  and  requires  no  assist- 
ance beyond  changing  it  about  a  foot  in  depth  every  three  years, 
us  a  flower  garden  requires  renewing,  if  a  lady  expects  a  succes* 


14-  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

sion  of  handsome  flowers.  The  ground  should  be  well  dug  th« 
latter  end  of  September  or  October,  or  even  in  November,  and  if 
the  soil  is  not  sufficiently  fine,  let  it  be  dug  over  a  second  or  third 
time,  and  neatly  raked  with  a  very  fine-toothed  rake. 

Stony  ground  requires  riddling  well,  and  great  care  must  be 
taken  to  keep  it  neat  by  picking  up  the  little  stones  which  con- 
stantly force  themselves  to  the  surface  after  rains.  Nothing  is  so 
unbecoming  as  weeds  and  stones  in  parterres,  where  the  eye  seeks 
flowers  and  neatness. 

Almost  every  plant  loves  sand ;  and  if  that  can  be  procured,  it 
enriches  and  nourishes  the  soil,  especially  for  bulbs,  pinks,  carna- 
tions, auriculas,  hyacinths,  &c.  Let  it  be  mixed  in  the  proportion 
of  a  third  part  to  the  whole. 

If  the  dead  leaves  are  swept  into  a  mound  every  autumn,  and 
the  soap  suds,  brine,  &c.,  of  the  house  be  thrown  upon  it,  th« 
mass  will  quickly  decompose,  and  become  available  the  following 
year.  It  makes  an  admirable  compost  for  auriculas,  &c.,  mixed 
with  garden  or  other  mould. 

If  the  ground  be  a  gravelly  soil,  the  flower-garden  should  not 
slope,  for  stony  ground  requires  all  the  moisture  you  can  give  it, 
while  the  sloping  situation  would  increase  the  heat  and  dry  ness. 
A  moist  earth,  on  the  contrary,  would  be  improved  by  being 
sloped  towards  the  east  or  west. 

The  south  is  not  so  proper  for  f?owers,  as  u  glaring  sun  withers 
the  tender  flowers  ;  but  the  north  must  be  carefully  avoided,  and 
shut  out  by  a  laurel  hedge,  a  wall,  or  any  rural  fence  gainu h'-d 
with  hardy  creepers,  or  monthly  roses,  which  make  a  gay  arid 
agreeable  defense.  Monthly  roses  are  invaluable  as  auxiliaries  of 
all  kinds.  They  will  grow  in  any  soil,  and  bloom  through  the 
winter  months,  always  giving  a  delicate  fragrance,  and  smiling 
even  in  the  snow.  Monthly  roses  will  ever  be  the  float's  <U> 
light :  they  are  the  hardiest,  .most  delicate-looking,  and 


GENERAL  REMARKS.  15 

leaved  of  garden  productions  ;  they  give  no  t:  v  uble,  and  speedily 
form  a  beautiful  screen  against  any  offensive  object.  No  flower 
garden  should  exist  without  abundance  of  monthly  roses, 

It  has  often  been  a  disputed  point  whether  flower  gardens 
should  be  intersected  with  gravel  walks  or  with  grass  plots. 
This  must  be  left  entirely  to  the  taste  and  means  of  the  party 
forming  a  garden.  Lawn  is  as  wet  and  melancholy  in  the  winter 
months,  as  it  is  beautiful  anji  desirable  in  summer ;  and  it  requires 
great  care  and  attention  in  mowing  and  rolling,  and  trimming 
round  the  border.  Gravel  walks  have  this  advantage  :  the  first 
trouble  is  the  last.  They  will  only  require  an  old  woman's-  or  a 
child's  assistance  in  keeping  them  free  from  weeds  ;  and  a  lady 
has  not  the  same  fears  of  taking  cold,  or  getting  wet  in  her  feet, 
during  the  rains  of  autumn  and  spring. 

Many  females  are  unequal  to  the  fatigue  of  bending  down  to 
flowers,  and  particularly  object  to  the  stooping  posture.  In  this 
case,  ingenuity  alone  is  required  to  raise  the  flowers  to  a  conve- 
nient height ;  and,  by  so  doing,  to  increase  the  beauty  and  pic- 
turesque appearance  of  the  garden.  Old  barrels  cut  in  half,  tubs, 
pails,  &c.,  neatly  painted  outside,  or  adorned  with  rural  orna- 
ments, and  raised  upon  feet  neatly  carved,  or  mounds  of  earth, 
stand  .in  lieu  of  richer  materials,  such  as  vases,  parapet  walls,  and 
other  expensive  devices,  which  ornament  the  gardens  of  the 
wealthy.  I  have  seen  these  humble  materials  shaped  into  forms 
as  pleading  to  the  eye,  and  even  more  consonant  to  our  damp 
climate,  than  marble  vases.  They  never  look  green  from  time, 
and  are  renewed  at  a  very  trifling  expense.  A  few  pounds  of 
nails,  and  the  unbarked  thinnings  from  fir  plantations,  are  the 
sole  requisites  towards  forming  any  device  which  a  tasteful  fancy 
can  dictate  ;  and  a  little  green  paint  adds  beauty  and  durability 
when  the  bark  falls  from  the  wood  it  protects.  I  have  seen  fir 
ualls  nailed  on  to  these  forrr.s  in  tasteful  patterns ;  and  creeper* 


16  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

being  allowed  to  fall  gracefully  over  the  brims,  give  a  remark 
ably  pleasing  and  varied  appearance  to  the  parterre. 

Where  mould  is  not  easily  to  be  procured — as,  for  instance,  in 
towns — the  tubs  or  receptacles  may  be  half  filled  with  any  kind 
)f  rubble,  only  space  must  be  left  to  allow  of  two  feet  of  fine 
nould  at  the  top,  which  is  quite  sufficient  for  bulbous  roots} 
•reepers,  &c.  These  receptacles  have  one  powerful  advantage 
over  ground  plots  ;  they  can  be  moved  under  sheds,  or  into  out- 
houses, during  the  heavy  rains  or  frosts  of  winter  ;  and  thereby 
enable  a  lady  to  preserve  the  more  delicate  flowers,  which  would 
deteriorate  by  constant  exposure  to  inclement  weather. 

A  lady  requires  peculiar  tools  for  her  light  work.  She  should 
possess  &  light  spade ;  two  rakes,  one  with  very  fine  teeth,  and 
the  other  a  size  larger,  for  cleaning  the  walks  when  they  are 
raked,  and  for  raking  the  larger  stones  from  the  garden  borders. 
A  light  garden  fork  is  very  necessary  to  take  up  bulbous  or  other 
roots  with,  as  the  spade  would  wound  and  injure  them,  whereas 
they  pass  safely  through  the  interstices  of  the  fork  or  prong.  A 
watering-pot  is  indispensable,  and  a  hoe.  Two  trowels  am  like- 
wise necessary ;  one  should  be  a  tolerable  size,  to  transplant  pe- 
rennial and  biennial  flower  roots  ;  the  other  should  be  pointed 
and  small,  to  transplant  the  more  delicate  roots  of  anemones, 
bulbs,  &c. 

The  pruning-knife  must  b"e  always  sharp,  and,  in  shape,  U 
should  bend  a  little  inwards,  to  facilitate  cutting  away  straggling 
or  dead  shoots,  branches,  &c.  The  "  avroncator,"  lately  so  much 
in  request,  is  an  admirable  instrument ;  but  it  is  expensive,  aim 
;>f  most  importance  in  shrubberies,  where  heavy  branches  are  to 
be  cut  away.  The  Sieur  Louis  d'Auxerre,  who  wrote  a  work 
upon  gardening  in  1706,  has  a  sketch  of  the  avroncator  of  the 
present  day,  which  he  designates  as  caterpillar  shears, 

A  light  pair  of  shears,  kept  always  in  good  order,  is  necessarr 


GENERAL  REMARKS).  17 

to  keep  privet  or  laurel  hedges  properly  clipped ;  and  a  stout 
deep  basket  must  be  deposited  in  the  tool-shed,  to  contain  the 
weeds  and  clippings.  These  are  the  only  tools  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  a  lady's  garden.  I  have  seen  a  great  variety  decorating 
the  wall  of  an  amateur  tool -house,  but  they  must  have  been  in- 
tended for  show,  not  for  use.  A  real  artiste,  in  whatever  pro- 
fession she  may  engage,  will  only  encumber  herself  with  essen- 
tials. All  else  is  superfluous. 

I  have  reserved  two  especially  necessary  recommendations  to  the 
last,  being  comforts  independent  of  the  tool-house.  Every  lady 
should  be  furnished  with  a  gardening  apron,  composed  of  stout 
Holland,  with  ample  pockets  to  contain  her  pruning- knife,  a  small 
stout  hammer,  a  ball  of  string,  and  a  few  nails  and  snippings  of 
cloth.  Have  nothing  to  do  with  scissors ;  they  are  excellent  in 
the  work-room,  but  dangerous  in  a  flower  garden,  as  they  wrench 
and  wound  the  stems  of  flowers.  The  knife  cuts  slanting, 
which  is  the  proper  way  of  taking  off  slips ;  and  the  knife  is 
sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  of  a  flower  garden,  even  for  cutting 
string. 

The  second  article  which  I  pronounce  to  be  indispensable  is  a 
pair  of  India  rubber  shoes,  or  the  wooden  high-heeled  shoes 
called  "  sabots  "  by  the  French.  In  these  protections,  a  lady 
may  indulge  her  passion  for  flowers  at  all  seasons,  without  risk 
of  rheumatism  or  chills,  providing  it  does  not  actually  rain  or 
snow :  and  the  cheering  influence  of  the  fresh  air,  combined  with 
a  favorite  amusement,  must  ever  operate  beneficially  on  the  naind 
and  body  in  every  season  of  the  year. 


18  LADIES'   FLOWER  GARDENER. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ON   LAYING    OUT. 

are  many  modes  of  adorning  a  small  piece  of  ground, 
so  as  to  contain  gay  flowers  and  plants,  and  appear  double  its 
real  size.  By  covering  every  wall  or  palisade  with  monthly 
roses  and  creepers  of  every  kind,  no  space  is  lost,  and  unsightly  ob- 
jects even  contribute  to  the  general  effect  of  a  "Plaisaunce."  The 
larger  flowers,  such  as  hollyhocks,  sunflowers,  &c.,  look  to  the 
best  advantage  as  a  back  ground,  either  planted  in  clumps,  or 
arranged  singly.  Scarlet  lychnis,  campanula,  or  any  second- 
sized  flowers,  may  range  themselves  below,  and  so  in  graduated 
order,  till  the  eye  reposes  upon  a  foreground  of  pansies,  auriculas, 
polyanthuses,  and  innumerable  humbler  beauties.  Thus  all  are 
seen  in  their  order,  and  present  a  mass  of  superb  coloring  to  the 
observer,  none  interfering  with  the  other.  The  hollyhock  does 
not  shroud  the  lowly  pansy  from  displaying  its  bright  tints  of  yel- 
low and  purple  ;  neither  can  the  sturdy  and  gaudy  sunflower  hide 
the  modest  double  violet  or  smartly  clad  anemone  from  observa- 
tion. Each  flower  is  by  this  mode  of  planting  distinctly  seen, 
and  each  contributes  its  beauty  and  its  scent,  by  receiving  the 
beams  of  the  sun  in  equal  proportions. 

If  the  trunk  of  a  tree  stands  tolerably  free  from  deep  over- 
shadowing branches,  twine  the  creeping  rose,  the  late  honey- 
suckle, or  the  everlasting  pea  round  its  stem,  that  every  inch  of 
ground  may  become  available.  The  tall  naked  stem  of  the 
young  ash  looks  well  festooned  with  roses  and  honeysuckles, 


ON  LA  YIN  &  OUT.  19 

Wherever  creeping  flowering  plants  can  live,  let  them  adcrn  every 
nook  and  corner,  stem,  wall,  and  post ;  they  are  elegant  in  ap- 
pearance, and  many  of  them,  particularly  clematis,  are  delicious 
in  fragrant  scent. 

If  flowers  are  planted  in  round  or  square  plots,  the  same  rul< 
applies  in  arranging  them.  The  tallest  must  be  placed  in  thi 
center,  but  I  recommend  a  lady  to  banish  sunflowers  and  holly 
hocks  from  her  plots,  and  consign  them  to  broad  borders  again^. 
a  wall,  or  in  clumps  of  three  and  three,  as  a  screen  against  the 
north,  or  against  any  unsightly  object.  Their  large  roots  draw 
so  much  nourishment  from  the  ground,  that  the  lesser  plants  suf- 
fer, and  the  soil  becomes  quickly  exhausted.  Like  gluttons,  they 
should  feed  alone,  or  their  companions  will  languish  in  starvation, 
and  become  impoverished.  The  wren  cannot  feed  with  the  vul- 
ture. 

The  south  end  or  corner  of  a  moderate  flower  garden  should 
be  fixed  upon  for  the  erection  of  a  root  house,  which  is  not  an 
expensive  undertaking,  and  which  forms  a  picturesque  as  well  as 
a  most  useful  appendage  to  a  lady's  parterre.  Thinnings  of 
plantations,  which  are  everywhere  procured  at  a  very  moderate 
charge,  rudely  shaped  and  nailed  into  any  fancied  form,  may 
supply  all  that  is  needful  to  the  little  inclosure  ;  and  a  thatch  of 
straw,  rushes,  or  heather,  will  prove  a  sure  defense  to  the  roof 
and  back.  There,  a  lady  may  display  her  taste  by  the  beauty  of 
the  flowers  which  she  may  train  through  the  rural  frame-work. 
There,  the  moss-rose,  the  jessamine,  the  honeysuckle,  the  convol- 
vulus, and  many  other  bright  'and  beautiful  flowers,  may  escape 
and  cluster  around  her,  as  she  receives  rest  and  shelier  within 
their  graceful  lattice-work.  There,  also,  may  be  deposited  the 
implements  of  her  vocation ;  and  during  the  severe  weather,  its 
warm  piecincts  will  protect  (he  finer  kinds  of  carnations,  pinks. 


2(f  LADIES   FLOWER  GARDENER. 

auricuiasr,  &c.,  which  do  not  bear  the  heavy  rains,  or  frosts  of 
lengthened  duration,  without  injuring  the  plant. 

Flowers  are  divided  into  three  classes : — annuals,  biennials, 
and  perennials. 

Annuals  are  those  flowers  which  are  raised  from  seeds  alone,  in 
the  spring,  and  which  die  in  the  autumn.  They  are  again  divi- 
ded into  three  classes  : — the  tender  and  more  curious  kinds  ;  the 
less  tender  or  hardier  kinds  ;  and  the  hardiest  and  common  kinds. 

Biennials  are  those  flowers  which  are  produced  by. seed,  bloom 
the  second  year,  and  remain  two  years  in  perfection,  after  which 
they  gradually  dwindle  and  die  away. 

Some  sorts,  however,  of  the  biennials,  afford  a  continuation  of 
plants  by  offsets,  slips,  and  cuttings  of  the  tops,  and  by  layers 
and^pipings,  so  that,  though  the  parent  flower  dies,  the  species 
are  perpetuated,  particularly  to  continue  curious  double-flowered 
kinds,  as  for  instance,  double  rockets,  by  root  offsets,  and  cuttings 
of  the  young  flower-stalks ;  double  wallflowers  by  slips  of  the 
small  top  shoots  ;  double  sweet-williams  by  layers  and  pipings ; 
and  carnations  by  layers. 

Perennials  are  those  flowers  which  continue  many  years,  and 
are  propagated  by  root  offsets,  suckers,  parting  roots,  &c.,  as 
will  be  more  fully  particularised  under  the  head  of  Perennials. 

It  has  been  a  debated  point  among  florists  whether  plots  or 
baskets  should  be  devoted  each  to  a  particular  variety  of  flower, 
or  receive  flowers  of  different  kinds,  flowering  at  separate  seasons. 
Thus,  many  ladies  set  apart  one  plot  of  ground  for  anemones  only 
— another  plot  receives  only  pansies,  and  so  on.  There  is  much 
to  be  said  on  both  sides  the  question. 

If  a  plot  of  ground  is  devoted  to  one  variety  of  flower  only, 
you  can  give  it  the  appropriate  mould,  and  amuse  your  eye  with 
its  expanse  of  bright  coloring.  Nothing  is  more  beautiful  than 
a  bed  of  runsies,  or  a  bed  of  the  bright  and  glowing  scarlet  vcr- 


ON  LAYING  OUT.  21 

bina ;  nothing  can  exceed  the  gay  and  flaunty  ;ints  of  a  b«nl  of 
tulips,  or  the  rich  hues  of  the  lilac  and  the  white  petunia.  A 
large  space  of  garden  allows  its  possessor  to  revel  in  separate 
beds  of  flowers,  whose  beauty  is  increased  twofold  by  masses ; 
and  from  that  very  space,  the  eye  does  not  so  easily  discover  the 
melancholy  appearance  of  one  or  more  plots  exhibiting  nothing 
but  dark  mould,  and  withered  stems,  arising  from  the  earlier 
sorts  being  out  of  bloom. 

But  in  less  spacious  gardens,  this  gloomy  and  mournful  vacuum 
must  be  avoided.  Every  border  and  plot  of  ground  should  ex- 
hibit a  gay  succession  of  flowers  in  bloom ;  and  that  object  can 
only  be  effected  by  a  pretty  equal  distribution  of  flowers  of  early 
and  late  growth.  As  the  May  flowers  droop,  the  June  produc- 
tions supply  their  place  ;  and  these,  again,  are  followed  in  succes- 
sion, till  the  Golden  rod  and  Michaelmas  day  daisy  announce  the 
decadence  of  the  parterre  for  the  year. 

Yet  every  flower  may  be  supplied  with  its  favorite  soil  with  a 
little  patience  and  observation.  A  light  soil  suits  all  descriptions 
very  well ;  and  I  never  yet  found  disappointment  in  any  descrip- 
tion of  earth  which  was  thoroughly  well  dug,  and  dressed  yearly 
from  the  mound  of  accumulated  leaves  and  soap-suds,  alluded  to 
in  the  first  chapter.  I  particularly  recommend  a  portion  of  sand 
mixed  with  the  heap.  All  bulbs,  carnations,  pinks,  auriculas, 
ranunculuses,  &c.,  love  a  mixture  of  sand.  I  know  no  flowers  of 
the  hardy  class  which  reject  it.  Mix  sand  well  into  your  borders 
and  plots,  and  you  will  not  fail  to  have  handsome  flowers. 

I  subjoin  a  list  of  common  flowers  appertaining  to  each  month, 
in  order  to  fill  the  borders  with  one  or  more  roots  of  each 
variety.  I  do  not  iff-clude  the  annuals. 


22 


LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER, 


JANUARY. 


In  ;his  month  the  following  flowers  are  in  blow  :— 
Single  Anemones  I     Primroses 

Winter  Cyclamens  Winter  Hyacinth 

Michaelmas  Daisy  L    Narcissus  of  the  East 

Hepaticas  |     Christmas  Rose 


Single  Anemones 
Forward  Anemones 
Persian  Iris 
Spring  Crocus 


FEBRUARY. 

Single  Yellow  Gilliflower 
Single  Liverwort 
Winter  Aconite 
Hepaticas 


Bulbous  Iris 
Anemones  of  all  sorts 
Spring  Cyclamens 
Liverwort  of  all  sorts 
Daffodils 
Crowfoots 
Spring  Crocus 


MARCH. 

Hyacinths  of  all  sorts 

Jonquils 

Yellow  Gilliflower 

Narcissus  of  several  kinds    . 

Forward  Bears'-ears 

Forward  Tulips 

Single  Primroses  of  divers  cc'ort 


Daisies 

Yellow  Gilliflowers 
Narcissus  of  all  sorts 
Forward  Bears'-ear 
Spring  Cyclamens 
Crocus,  otherwise     called 

flowers 

Anemones  of  all  sorts 
Iris 

Pansies 
Daffodils 


Saffron- 


Double  Liverworts 

Primroses 

Honeysuckles 

Tulips 

Hyacinths 

Single  Jonquils 

Crown-Imperial 

Yellow    Gilliflowers, 

single 

Pasque-Flowers 
March  Violets 


double    tnd 


Anemones 

Gilliflowers  of  all  sorts 

Yellow  Gilliflowers 

Columbines 

Asphodils 

Orange,  or  flame-colored  Lilies 

Double  Jacea,  a  sort  of  Lychnis 

Cy anuses  of  all  sarts 

Hyacinths 

Day  Lilies 

Bastard  Dittany 

Daisies 

Lily  of  the  Valley 


Mountain  Pinks 

Pansies 

Peonies  of  all  sorts 

Ranunculuses  of  all  sorts 

Some  Irises :  as  those  which  we 

call  the    Bulbous   Iris,  a?id   the 

Chamae-Iris 
Italian   Spiderwort,  a  sor<   of  As- 

phodil 

Poet's  Pinks 
Backward  Tulips 
Julians,  otherwise  <  ailed    English 

Gilliflowerg 


ON   LAYUSTG   OUT, 


JUNE. 


Snap-drauons  of  ail  sorts 

Wild  Tansies 

Pinks,  otherwise  cabled  Lychnises 

Irises 

Roses 

Tuberoses 

Pansies 

Larkspur 

Great  Daisies 


Climbers 

Cyanuses  of  all  sorts 
Foxgloves  of  all  sort* 
Mountain  Lilies 
Gilliflowers  of  all  sort* 
Monk's-hoods 
Pinks  of  all  sorts 
Candy-tufts 
Poppies 


JULY. 


Tessamine 

Spanish  Brown 

Basils 

Bell-flowers 

Indian  Jacea 

Great  Daisies 

Monk's- hoods 

Pinks 

Scabiuses 

Nigellas 

Cyclamens 

Lobel's  Catch-flies 

Lilies  of  all  sorts 

Apples  of  Love 

Comfrey 

Poppies 

Snap-dragons 

Double  Marigolds 

Amaranthuses 

Hellebore 

Ox-eyes 


Pinks  of  the  Poets 

Bee-flowers 

Sea-hollies 

Foxgloves 

Wild  Poppies 

Everlastings 

Roses 

Dittanies 

Bindweeds 

Lilies  of  St.  Bruno 

Tricolors 

Squills 

Motherworta 

Climbers 

Oculus  Christ! 

Camomile 

Sunflowers 

Belvederes 

Gilliflowers  of  all  sortt 

Thorn-apple 

Valerian 


AUGUST. 


Oculus  Christi,  otherwise  called 

Starwort 
Belvederes 
Climbers  of  all  sorts 
Apples  of  Love 
Marvels  of  Peru 
Pansies 
Ranunculuses 
Double  Marigolds 
Candy-tufts 
Autumn  Cyclamens 
Jessamines 

Sunflowers,  vivacious  and  annual 
Indian  Narcissus 


Foxgloves 

Cyclamens 

Passion-flowers 

Everlastings 

Tuberoses 

Monk's-hood 

Indian  Pinks  of  all  kind* 

Bindweed 

Passvelours 

Great  Daisies 

White  Bell-flower 

Autumnal  Meadow  Sairroe 

Giilifloweiu 


24 


LADIES'   FLOWER   GARDENER. 


SEPTEMBER. 


Tricolors 

Love-apples 

Marvel  of  Peru 

Monk's-hood 

Narcissus  of  Portugal 

Snap-dragons 

Oculus  Christi 

Basils 

Belvederes 

Great  Daisies 

Double  Marigolds 

Monthly  Roses 

Tuberoses 


Tricolors 
Oculus  Christi 
Snap-dragons 
Colchicums 
Autumn  Crocus 
Autumnal  Cyclamens 
Monk's-hood 
Indian  Pinks 


Amaryllis 

Autumnal  Narcissm 

White  Bell-flowers 

Indian  Pinks 

Indian  Roses 

Amaranthus 

Pansies 

Passion-flower 

Autumnal  Crocus 

Thorn-apple 

Carnations 

Ranunculuses  planted  in  May 

Colchicums 


OCTOBER. 


Pansies  that  were  sown  in  August 

Passion-flower 

Passvelours 

Double  Marigolds 

Some  Pinks 

Amaryllis 

Autumnal  Narcissus 


NOVEMBER. 


Snap-dragons 

Double  and  Single  Gilliflowers 

Great  Daisies 

Pansies  sown  in  August 

Monthly  Roses 


Double  Violets 
Single  Anemones  of  all  sorts 
Winter  Cyclamens 
Forward  Hellebore 
Golden  Rod 


Rabbits  are  an  intolerable  nuisance  in  a  flower  garden,  and  in 
some  country  places  they  abound  most  destructively.  A  light 
wire  fence  about  two  feet  high,  closely  lattice-worked,  or  a  net 
of  the  same  height,  carried  round  the  garden,  is  a  sure  defense 
from  these  marauders.  But  where  these  conveniences  are  unat- 
tainable, there  are  other  modes  which  answer  the  purpose,  but 
they  require  a  little  trouble  and  patience. 

It  is  the  well-known  nature  of  Rabbits  and  Hares  to  dislike 
climbing  or  entangling  their  feet;  and  very  simple  inventions 
deter  them  from  attempting  to  gnaw  the  roots  and  hearts  of 


ON  LAYING  OUT.  25 

flowers.  They  will  not  walk  upon  straw  or  ashes  strewed  thickly 
round  any  plant :  they  equally  dislike  a  fence  of  sticks  placed 
round  a  plot,  with  bits  of  white  paper  or  card  fastened  to  each 
stick  ;  or  a  string  carried  round  the  sticks  a  foot  or  two  high. 
If  they  cannot  creep  under  a  slight  fence,  they  never  attempt  to 
leap  over  it.  If  a  stick  is  run  into  the  ground  close  to  a  plant, 
and  other  sticks  are  slanted  from  the  ground  towards  the  center, 
the  plant  will  remain  untouched,  be  the  frost  of  ever  so  long 
duration. 

Snails  are  disagreeable  intruders,  but  the  following  method  is 
an  exterminating  war  of  short  duration  : — 

Throw  cabbage  leaves  upon  your  borders  over  night ;  in  the 
morning,  early,  you  will  find  them  covered  underneath  with 
snails,  which  have  taken  refuge  there.  Thus  they  are  easily 
taken  and  destroyed. 

Earwigs  are  taken  in  great  numbers  by  hanging  gallipots, 
tubes,  or  'my  such  receptacle,  upon  low  sticks  in  the  borders  over 
night.  In  these  they  shelter  themselves,  and  are  consequently 
victimized  in  the  morning.  The  gallipots,  broken  bottles,  &c., 
should  be  placed  upon  the  stick  like  a  man's  hat,  that  the  vermin 
may  ascend  into  them. 

Ants  are  very  great  enemies  to  flowers  ;  but  I  know  no  method 
of  attacking  them,  except  in  their  own  strongholds,  which  I  have 
always  done  with  cruel  intrepidity  and  success.  My  only  plan 
was  to  lay  open  the  little  ant-hill,  and  pour  boiling  water  upon 
the  busy  insects,  which  destroyed  at  once  the  commonwealth, 
and  the  eggs  deposited  within  the  mound.  In  some  places  ants 
are  extremely  large  and  abundant,  and  they  quickly  destroy  the 
beauty  of  a  flower  by  attacking  its  root  and  heart.* 

*  The  Emperor  Pagonatus,  who  wrote  a  treatise  upon  agriculture,  assure* 
us,  that  to  clear  a  garden  of  ants,  we  should  burn  empty  snail  shells  with 
storax  wood,  and  throw  the  ashes  upon  the  ant-hills,  which  obliges  them  to 
remove.     I  never  tried  this  method. 
2 


26 

Mildew  and  blight  infest  roses  and  honey-suckles.  Soap-suds 
thrown  over  rose  bushes ;  heavy  waterings  with  tobacco-water, 
or  the  water  in  which  potatoes  have  been  boiled,  is  successful  in 
a  degree,  but  the  best  way  is  a  very  troublesome  one  to  perse- 
vere in.  Pinch  every  leaf  well  which  curls  up,  by  which  you 
may  know  a  small  maggot  is  deposited  therein.  By  so  doing 
you  destroy  the  germ  of  a  thousand  little  monsters. 

Mildew  and  blight  come  from  the  east ;  therefore  honeysuckles 
should  be  sheltered  from  that  aspect ;  for,  as  they  rise  and  spread 
widely,  they  are  not  so  manageable  as  a  rose-bush.  A  mass  ot 
luxuriant  honeysuckles  is  beautiful  to  the  eye  and  delicious  in 
frao-rance  :  but  covered  with  mildew,  it  is  a  blackened  and  miser- 
able object.  Mildew,  fortunately,  does  not  make  its  appearance 
every  spring ;  but  once  in  four  or  five  years  it  comes  as  a  plague, 
to  desolate  the  garden.  A  great  deal  may  be  raked  away  it 
taken  off  as  soon  as  it  spreads  its  cobwebs  over  these  lovely 
flowers  ;  but  it  should  be  done  without  delay. 

I  cannot  lay  too  great  stress  upon  the  neatness  in  which  a 
lady's  garden  should  be  kept.  If  it  is  not  beautifully  neat,  it  is 
nothing.  For  this  reason,  keep  every  plant  distinct  in  the  flower- 
beds ;  let  every  tall  flower  be  well  staked,  that  the  wind  may  not 
blow  it  prostrate  ;  rake  away  dead  leaves  from  the  beds,  and 
trim  every  flower-root  from  discolored  leaves,  weeds,  &c. ;  re- 
move all  weeds  and  stones  the  moment  they  appear,  and  cleai 
away  decaying  stems,  which  are  so  littering  and  offensive  to  the 
eye.  There  is  always  some  employment  of  this  kind  for  ever/- 
week  in  the  year. 

Old  iron  rods,  both  large  and  small,  are  to  be  procured  cheay 
at  the  ironmongers.  These  old  rusty  rods,  painted  green,  or  lead 
color,  are  'excellent  stakes  for  supporting  flowers,  and  do  not 
wear  out.  The  slighter  rods  are  very  firm  upright  support  irs 
for  Carnations,  Pinks,  &c.,  while  the  taller  and  larger  rods  aro 


ON  LAYING  OUT.  27 

the  firmest  and  best  poles  for  hollyhocks,  sunflowers,  and  tli€ 
larger  class  of  plants.  Fix  the  flower  stem  to  its  stake  with 
string,  or  the  tape  of  the  bass  matting,  soaked  in  water  to  pre- 
vent its  cracking,  and  tie  it  sufficiently  tight  to  prevent  the  wind 
tearing  it  from  its  position.  Tie  the  large  stems  in  three  places 
for  security. 

The  term  Deciduous,  applied  to  shrubs,  signifies  that  they 
shed  their  leaves  every  winter. 

Herbaceous  plants,  signify  those  plants  whose  roots  are  not 
woody,  such  as  stocks,  wallflowers,  <fec.  (fee. 

Fibrous-rooted  plants,  are  those  whose  roots  shoot  out  small 
fibers,  such  as  Polyanthuses,  violets,  <kc. 

Tuberous-rooted  plants,  signify  those  roots  which  form  and 
grow  into  little  tubes,  such  as  Anemones,  Ranunculuses,  (fee. 


PERENNIALS. 

Perennials  are  flowers  of  many  years'  duration;  and  they 
multiply  themselves  most  abundantly  by  suckers,  offsets,  parting 
the  roots,  (fee.  They  require  little  trouble  beyond  taking  care  to 
renew  the  soil  every  year  or  two  by  a  somewhat  plentiful  supply 
from  the  compost  heap ;  and  by  separating  the  offsets,  and  parV 
ing  the  roots  in  autumn,  to  strengthen  the  mother  plant.  Wher. 
the  flowers  are  past  and  the  stems  have  decayed,  then  the  opera- 
tion may  take  place.  Choose  a  showery  day  for  transplanting 
the  roots,  or  give  them  a  moderate  watering  to  fix  them  in  their 
fresh  places.  When  you  transplant  a  flower  root,  dig  a  hole  with 
your  trowel  sufficiently  large  to  give  the  fibers  room  to  lie  freely 
and  evenly  in  the  ground. 

I  have,  throughout  my  little  work,  laid  great  stress  upon  pos- 
sessing a  heap  of  compost,  ready  to  apply  to  roots  and  shrubs 
every  spring  and  autumn.  Wherever  the  soil  is  good  the  flowers 


28  LADIEf     FLOWER  GARDENER. 

will  bloom  handsomely ;  and  no  lady  will  be  disappointed  «f  that 
pleasure,  if  a  compost  heap  forms  one  essential,  in  a  hidden  cor- 
ner of  the  flower  garden.  If  you  raise  your  perennials  from 
seed,  sow  it  in  the  last  week  in  March  in  a  bed  of  light  earth,  in 
the  open  ground.  Let  the  bed  be  in  a  genial,  warm  situation, 
and  divide'  it  into  small  compartments ;  a  compartment  for  each 
sort  of  seed. 

Sow  the  seed  thin,  and  rake  or  break  the  earth  over  them  finely. 
Let  the  larger  seed  be  sown  half  an  inch  deep,  and  the  smaller 
seed  a  quarter  of  an  inch.  Water  the  beds  in  dry  weather  often 
with  a  watering  pot,  not  a  jug.  The  rose  of  the  watering  pot 
distributes  the  water  equally  among  the  seedlings ;  whereas, 
water  dashed  upon  them  from  a  jug  falls  in  masses,  and  forms 
holes  in  the  light  earth,  besides  prostrating  the  delicate  seedling. 

About  the  end  of  May,  the  seedlings  will  be  fit  to  remove  into 
another  nursery  bed,  to  gain  strength  till  October ;  or  be  planted 
at  once  where  they  are  to  remain.  Put  the  plants  six  inches 
apart,  and  water  them  moderately,  to  settle  the  earth  about  their 
roots. 

But  it  is  rarely  required  to  sow  seed  for  perennial  plants,- 
they  multiply  so  vigorously  and  quickly  of  themselves,  by  offsets ; 
and  cuttings  may  be  made  of  the  flower  stalks  in  May  and  June 
in  profusion. 

The  double  Scarlet  lychnis,  and  those  plants  which  rise  with 
firm  flower  stems,  make  excellent  cuttings,  and  grow  freely  when 
planted  in  moist  weather.  Double  Rockets,  Lychnidea^  and  many 
others,  succeed  well. 

Carnation  and  pink  seedlings  must  be  taken  great  care  of. 
They  will  be  ready  to  plant  out  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  as 
innumerable  varieties  spring  from  sowing  seed,  they  should  be 
planted  carefully  in  a  bed  by  themselves  six  inches  asunder,  and 
they  will  flower  the  following  year,  when  you  can  choose  th« 


ON  LAYING  OUT  2$ 

colors  you  ifsost  approve.  Carnations  prof/  .rly  rank  unde>  the 
head  of  biennials ;  but  pinks  are  strictly  perennial  plants,  and 
much  has  been  written  upon  this  hardy  and  beautiful  flower.  It 
comes  originally  from  a  temperate  climate,  therefore  the  pink 
loves  shade  :  the  fervid  sunbeams  cause  its  flowers  to  languish  and 
droop.  You  may  give  them  an  eastern  aspect. 

Be  careful  to  watch  pinks  when  they  are  budding,  and  do  not 
allow  two  buds  to  grow  side  by  side.  Pinch  off  the  smaller  bud, 
which  would  only  weaken  its  companion.  Keep  the  plants  free 
from  decayed  leaves,  and  gently  stir  the  earth  round  them  occa- 
sionally with  your  small  trowel.  This  operation  refreshes  them. 
Stake  them  neatly,  that  they  may  not  fall  prostrate,  after  rain. 

If  you  wish  to  preserve  any  particular  pink,  let  it  grow  in  a 
pot,  or  upon  a  raised  platform,  that  it  may  be  placed  beyond  the 
reach  of  hares,  rabbits,  or  poultry,  and  be  more  easily  sheltered 
from  long  and  severe  frost  or  rains  in  winter,  and  from  the  dry 
heats  in  summer,  either  of  which  destroys  the  beauty  of  the 
flower.  The  pots  can  be  sunk  in  the  ground  in  fine  weather.  Do 
not  hide  your  pinks  among  larger  flowers  :  let  them  be  distinctly 
seen.  If  you  water  pinks  too  much,  their  roots  become  rotten  ; 
and  if  you  suffer  them  to  be  too  dry,  they  become  diseased.  Be- 
ware of  extremes.  The  best  rule  is  to  keep  them  just  moist. 
A  fine  pink  should  not  have  sharp-pointed  flower  leaves ;  they 
should  be  round  and  even  at  their  edges,  and  the  colors  should  be 
well  defined,  not  running  one  into  the  other.  The  flower  should 
be  large ;  it  should  possess  a  great  many  leaves,  and  form  a  sort 
of  dome.  Piping  and  slipping,  is  the  most  expeditious  mode  of 
propagating  plants  from  any  selected  pink. 

Pansies,  violets,  &c.,  are  very  easily  propagated  by  parting  the 
roots  when  the  flowers  are  past.  Pansies  are  very  beautiful 
flowers  ;  and  cuttings  of  their  young  shoots  will  grow  very  freely 
if  kept  moist  and  shaded  for  some  little  time.  By  refreshing  the 


80  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

soil  every  year,  you  insure  large  flowers.  Pansies  and  violets 
bloom  early  in  the  spring. 

Hepaticas  must  be  parted  like  violets.  They  appear  so  very 
early  in  the  year  that  no  garden  should  exist  without  these  gay 
and  modest  flowers.  The  leaves  appear  after  the  flower  has  past 
away. 

The  Polyanthus  blooms  among  the  early  tribe.  In  planting 
this  flower,  be  careful  to  insert  the  roots  de£p  in  the  soil,  so  that 
the  leaves  may  rest  upon  it,  for  the  roots  are  produced  high  upon 
the  stem,  and  those  roots  must  be  enabled  to  shoot  into  the  soil. 
The  polyanthus,  like  almost  every  other  flower,  loves  a  good  soil, 
•with  a  mixture  of  sand. 

In  dividing  these  fibrous-rooted  perennial  plants,  take  only  the 
strong  offsets,  with  plenty  of  fibers  attached  to  them. 

Polyanthuses,  auriculas,  double  daisies,  double  camomile,  Lon- 
don pride,  violets,  hepaticas,  thrift,  primroses,  gentia*iella,  <fec., 
succeed  well,  taken  up  and  divided  in  September,  for  they  will 
all  have  done  flowering  by  that  time.  Indeed,  all  perennial 
fibrous-rooted  plants  may  be  taken  up  in  October  to  have  their 
roots  parted,  and  the  soil  refreshed  round  them. 

Peonies,  and  all  knob-rooted  plants,  should  be  taken  up  in 
October  to  part  their  roots  and  transplant  them  to  their  intended 
positions. 

The  saxifrage  has  very  small  roots,  which  are  apt  to  be  lost  in 
borders  if  not  very  carefully  looked  after.  Like  the  anemone, 
&c.,  sift  the  earth  well  for  them. 

Dahlias  require  a  word  or  two  upon  their  culture.  They  love 
sand,  therefore  allow  them  plenty  of  it,  but  do  not  put  manure 
to  their  roots,  which  throws  them  into  luxuriant  leaf  and  ctem, 
to  the  deterioration  of  the  flower.  Peat  mould  is  good,  if  you 
can  obtain  it,  to  mix  with  the  sand,  as  it  assists  the  flower  ih  de- 
veloping stripes  and  spots.  Train  each  plant  upright,  upox  one 


ON   LAYING  OUT.  81 

stem  only,  and  give  it  a  strong  stake  to  support  its  weight,  which 
soon  succumbs  under  gusts  of  wind.  Plant  them  in  open  and 
airy  places  When  the  stenis  become  black,  take  them  up,  sepa- 
rate the  roots,  and  plunge  them  into  a  box  of  ashes,  barley  chaff, 
or  sand,  to  protect  them  through  the  winter.  Plant  them  out  in 
May. 

Dahlias  grow  from  cuttings,  which  require  care  and  a  hot-bed 
to  do  well,  but  they  multiply  themselves  very  sufficiently  without 
that  trouble. 

It  is  a  great  perfection  to  see  every  tall  plant  in  a  flower-garden 
well  staked,  and  trimmed  from  dead  straggling  shoots.  Let  no 
branches  trail  upon  the  border,  but,  as  in  the  ease  of  Chrysan- 
themums, cut  away  the  lowest  branches  or  shoots,  that  each 
plant  may  stand  erect  and  neat  in  its  order,  without  intermed- 
dling in  its  neighbor's  concerns.  There  will  be  plenty  of  em- 
ployment all  through  the  summer  in  watching  the  growth  of 
your  plants,  in  cutting  away  decayed  stems,  and  trimming  off 
dead  leaves.  Let  nothing  remain  in  the  flower's  way  after  the 
brightness  of  its  bloom  has  past  by  :  cut  off  the  drooping  flower 
before  it  runs  to  seed,  which  only  tends  to  weaken  the  other 
flowers,  and  leave  only  the  finest  flower  to  produce  seed  on  each 
plant. 

Perennials  grow  remarkably  fine  always  in  newly  turned-up 
ground,  but  they  gradually  degenerate  if  they  are  allowed  to  re- 
main above  two  years  without  replacing  the  substance  they  have 
exhausted  in  the  soil.  Add  every  year  to  that  substance,  by 
liberal  supplies  from  the  compost  heap. 

Be  careful  to  multiply  your  supply  of  jasmines,  honeysuckles, 
&c.,  by  cuttings  in  their  due  season. 

I  subjoin  a  list  of  the  hardier  sorts  of  fibrous  rooted  Perennials, 
eligible  to  adorn  a  garden,  from  which  my  readers  may  stock 
their  borders. 


82 


LADIES'  FLOWEK  GAKDENER. 


LIST    OF    HARDY    PERENNIALS. 


Aster,  or  Starwort 

Large  blue  Alpine 

Common  Starwort,  or  Michaelmas 
Daisy 

Early  Pyrenean 

Blue  Italian  Starwort 

Catesby's  Starwort 

Dwarf  narrow-leaved  Starwort 

Midsummer  Starwort 

Autumnal   white    Starwort,  with 

broad  leaves 
Tripolian  Starwort 

Divaricated-branched 

Virginian   Starwort,  -with  spiked 
blue  flowers 

Early  blue  Starwort 

Rose  Starwort 

Latest  Starwort,  large  blue  flowers 

New  England  Starwort 

Red-flowering 
Apocynum,  Dogsbane 

Red-flowering 

Orange- colored 

Syrian 

Arum,  Italian  large- veined  leaf 
Asclcpias,  Swallow- wort 

White 

Yellow 

Astragalus,  Milk-vetch 
Alysson,  White 

Fellow 

Violet 

Borage,  the  Eastern 
Bachelors  Button 

Double  red 

Double  white 
Double  Ragged  Robin 
Campanula,  or  Bell-flower 

Double  blue 

Double  white 

Double    blue,  and  white    nettle- 
leaved 
Caltha,  double-flowered 

Marigold 

Cassia  of  Maryland 
Pinks,  double  pheasant's  eye 

Dobson 

Deptford 

Cob  white 


Red  cob 

W£ite  stock 

Damask 

Mountain 

Matted 

Old  man's  head 

Painted  lady 

Clove     pink,    and     many    othei 

varieties 
Sf.ock  July-flower,  the  orompton 

Double  scarlet  Brompton 

Single  scarlet 

Purple 

White  Brompton 

Queen  stock 

Purple  double 

Striped  double 

Single  of  each  sort 

Twickenham  stock 
Lichnidea,  early  blue 

Spotted-stalked,  with  purple  spikes 
of  flowers 

Virginia,  with  large  umbels 

Low  trailing  purple 

Carolina,  with  stiff  shining  leavf*, 

and  deeper  purple  flowers 
Cyanus,  broad-leaved 

Narrow-leaved 
Lychnis,  or  Campion 

Single  scarlet  lychnis 

Double  scarlet  lychnis 

Catchfly,  double  flowers 
Hepaticas,  single  white 

Single  blue 

Single  red 

Double  red 

Double  blue 
Lineria,  toad  flax 

Purple 

Yellow 
Bee  Larkspui 
Fraxinclla,  white 

Red 

Gentiania,  great  yellow 
Gentianella,'  blue 
Globularia.  blue  daisy 
Fox-glove,  red 

White 

Iron- colored 


ON 


OUT. 


83 


Sun-flmver 
Double  yellow,  and  several^  other 

species. 
Cyclamen,  red 

While 
Goldy  Locks 
Chelone,  white 

Red 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  common 

Double-flowering 
Solomon's  Seal,  single 

Double 

Filapendula,  or  Drop  wort 
Columbines,  common  blue 
Double  red 
Double  white 
Double  striped 
Starry,  double  and  single 
Early-flowering  Canada 
Thalictrum,  feathered  columbines 
Pulsatilla,  blue  Pasque  flower 
Orobus,  bitter  vetch 
Saxifrage,  double  white 
Thick-leaved 
Purple 

Veronica,  upright  blue 
Dwarf  blue 
Hungarian 
Blush 

Golden  Rod,  many  species 
Valerian,  red  garden  Valerian 

White  garden 

Rudbekia,  American  sun-flower 
Dwarf  Virginia,  with  large  yellow 

flowers 

Dwarf  Carolina,  with  narrow  red  , 

reflexed  petals  and  purple  florets  ; 

Virginia,  with  yellov,-  rays  and  red  ! 

florets 
Tall   yellow,   with    purple   stalks 

and  heart-shaped  leaves 
Taller,  with  yellow  flowers  and 
large  five-lobed  leaves,  and  those 
on  the  stalks  single 
Tallest    yellow,    with    narrower 
leaves,   which   are    all    of   five 
lobes 

Vulmonaria,  Lungwort 
Common 
American 

2* 


Monarda,  purple 

Scarlet 

Ephemeron,  Spider-wort,  or  flowert 
of  a  day 

White 

Blue 

Jacca,  American  knapweed 
Primrose,  double  yellow 

Double  scarlet 

White 

Polyanthus,  many  varieties 
Auriculas,  many  varieties          « 
Violets,  double  blue 

Double  white 

Double  red 

Russian 

Banksia 

Violet,  the  Major 
London-pride,  or  None-so-pretty 
Day-lily,  red 

Yellow 
Fumitory,  the  yellow 

White 

Bulbous- rooted 

American  forked 
Aconite,  Monk's-hood,  or  Wolf  ?s-haa» 

Blue  Monk's-hood 

Yellow 

White 

Wholesome  Wolf's-bane 
Winter  Aconite 
Hellebore,  or  Bear's-foot 

Common  black  hellebore 

Green-flowered 
White  Hellebore 
Christmas  Rose 
Geranium.  Crane's-bill 

Bloody  Crane's-bill 

Blue 

Roman 

Bladder-cupped 

Daisies,  common  double  red  garden 
daisy 

White 

Double  variegated 

Cock's-comb  daisies,  white  and  ret 

Hen  and  chicken,  white  and  red 
Do/i/tas,  many  varieties 
Peony,  double  red 

Double  white 


LADIES7  FLOWER  GARDENER. 


Double  purple 

Ma_e,  with  large  single  flowers 

Sweet-smelling  Portugal 

Double  rose-colored 
Silpruum,  bastard  Chrysanthemum 
*m,  Fletn>de-lis,  or  flags 

The  German  violet-colored 

Variegated,  cr   Hungarian,  purple 
and  yellow 

Chalcedonian  iris 

Greater  Dalmatian  iris 

Tfiere  are  several  other  varieties 
of  Irises,  all  very  hardy  and  very 
beautiful  plants 
Cardinal  Flowers,  scarlet 

Blue 

Rocket,  double  white 
Balm  of  Gilead,  sweet-scented  5  must 

be  sheltered  in  winter 


Everlasting  Pea 
Eupatorium,  several  varieties 
Eryngo,  blue 

White 

Mountain,  purple  and  violet 

There  are  some  other  varieties 
Snap  Dragon,  or  Calf  56-snout 

Red 

White 

Variegated 
Math  Mullein 
.Angelica 

Jlsphodelus,  King's-spear 
Lupins,  perennial,  blue-flowered 
Ononis,  Rest*  bar 

Large  yellow-flowered 
Tradescantia,    or    Virginia     Spider^ 

wort 


The  Saxifrage  is  propagated  by  cuttings  and  offsets,  which  the 
roots  produce  abundantly.  Take  the  offsets  and  plant  them  out 
in  August.  The  double  white  saxifrage  is  a  beautiful  flower,  and 
blooms-  early  in  the  spring.  The  pyramidal  saxifrage  is  a  very 
handsome  decorative  flower,  but  it  must  be  planted  in  little  clumps 
to  make  a  showy  appearance. 

October  is  the  busy  month  for  transplanting  and  removing  the 
offsets  of  all  perennial  and  biennial  plants.  In  this  month  every 
flower  of  summer  has  passed  away,  and  the  garden  is  free  to 
receive  all  new  arrangements  in  its  future  dispositions.  Golden 
rod,  Michaelmas  daisies,  everlasting  sun-flower,  and  other  branch- 
ing plants,  will  require  taking  up  every  four  years,  to  part  the 
main  root  into  separate  plants,  and  replace  them  in  the  ground 
again.  Peonies,  lilies  of  the  valley,  fraxinellas,  monk's-hood,  flag- 
leaved  irises,  &c.,  must  be  increased  or  removed  when  required. 
All  this  is  most  effectually  done  in  October. 

In  the  same  month,  finish  all  that  is  to  be  effected  among  the 
perennial  tribe.  Campanulas,  lychnises,  polyanthuses,  violets, 
aconites,  cyclamens,  gentianella,  yellow  gentian,  double  daisies, 


ON   LAYING  OUT.  35 

hepaticas,  saxifrage,  &c.,  must  be  attended  to,  and  propagated, 
by  dividing  the  roots,  before  October  closes.  November  is  the 
season  of  fogs  and  severe  frosts :  if  a  lady  is  prudent,  she  will 
perform  all  these  needful  operations  in  October,  and  November 
will  have  no  alarms  for  her. 

All  the  double-flowering  plants,  such  as  double  sweet-william, 
double  rockets,  double  scarlet  lychnis,  &c.,  should  be  placed  in 
sheltered  situations  in  October,  to  weather  out  the  storms  of 
winter.  Double  flowers  are  very  handsome,  and  deserve  a  little 
care. 

The  most  charming  little  perennial  flower  which  can  adorn  a 
lady's  garden  is  the  scarlet  verbena,  but  it  is  very  difficult  to  pre- 
serve through  the  winter.  Its  beauty,  however,  repays  the  care 
•which  may  be  bestowed  upon  it.  This  tender  plant — the  only 
really  tender  root  which  I  admit  into  my  work — is  not  only  de- 
sirable from  its  fine,  full  scarlet  blossoms,  but  it  blooms  from 
April  to  November.  The  scarlet  verbena  loves  a  rich,  light,  dry 
border  or  bed,  in  a  sunny  situation  ;  they  delight  also  in  rock- 
work,  where  they  have  been  known  to  exist  through  the  winter. 
Plant  the  roots  about  six  inches  apart  in  the  middle  of  April,  and 
keep  pegging  down  the  shoots  as  they  throw  themselves  along 
the  bed.  A  profusion  of  flowers  and  plants  are  produced  by  thii 
means.  A  bed  or  border  sloping  to  the  south  is  the  best  situa- 
tion frr  the  scarlet  verbena. 


36  LADIES'  FLOWEE  GARDENER. 


CHAPTER  IV 

BULBS  AND  TUBEROUS-BOOTED  FLOWERS — PERENNIALS. 

SHALL  give  the  bulbous  and  tuberous-rooted  flowers  a  chap- 
ter to  themselves.  They  are  the  earliest  treasures  of  the 
flower-garden,  and  deserve  especial  notice.  There  was  a  pe- 
riod when  two  hundred  pounds  was  offered  for  a  hyacinth  root,  and 
even  the  enormous  sum  of  six  hundred  pounds  was  given  for  a  Sem- 
per Augustus  tulip,  by  the  Dutch  tulip  fanciers.  But  though  a  few 
florists  are  still  particularly  nice  with  respect  to  their  bulhs,  the 
time  is  past  for  paying  such  splendid  prices ;  and  such  an  inex- 
haustible variety  offer  themselves  to  our  notice  now,  that  we  are 
somewhat  puzzled  in  making  a  choice  collection.  Seed  produces 
immense  numbers  yearly,  and  an  infinite  variety  of  new  colors  in 
each  species.  The  florist  is  lost  in  admiration  of  the  magnificent 
blooms  which  meet  the  eye  in  every  flower-garden  which  is  care- 
fully attended  to. 

Bulbs  love  a  mixture  of  garden  soil  and  sand,  well  mixed,  and 
dug  about  two  spades  deep  to  lighten  it.  Break  the  mould  tine, 
and  rake  the  surface  even.  Plant  the  bulbs  four  inches  deep, 
and  let  them  be  six  inches  apart,  placing  the  bulb  with  care  »mo 
the  dibbled  hole,  and  pressing  the  earth  gently  round  each.  All 
bulbs  should  be  replanted  in  September,  and  taken  out  of  the 
ground  when  they  have  done  flowering.  When  the  leaves  and 
stems  decay,  dig  them  neatly  up,  in  dry  weather,  with  your 
garden  fork  ;  take  the  offsets  carefully  from  the  main  root ;  spread 
them  out  to  dry  on  a  mat,  and  put  them  in  a  cool  dry  placf  to 
plant  again  in  September. 


TRANSPLANTING  BULBS.  87 

The  common  bulbs,  such  as  Snowdrops,  Crocuses,  &c.,  may  be 
left  two  or  three  years  untouched  ;  but  at  the  end  of  that  period 
take  them  up,  to  separate  the  offsets  and  small  roots  from  the 
mother  plants.  You  can  replant  them  immediately,  taking  care 
to  thin  the  clumps,  and  separate  each  root  six  inches  from  ita 
-eighbor,  that  they  may  rise  healthy,  and  throw  out  fine  blooms. 

Narcissuses,  Jonquils,  and  Irises,  may  also  remain  two  years 
untouched ;  but  if  annually  taken  up,  they  will  flower  finer,  and 
for  these  reasons. 

By  taking  up  your  bulbs  as  soon  as  their  leaves  and  stems  de- 
cay, it  not  only  allows  you  to  separate  the  offsets,  which  weaken 
the  parent  bulb,  but  it  prevents  their  receiving  any  damage  from 
long  drought,  or  the  equally  destructive  moisture  of  heavy  rains, 
which  would  set  them  growing  again  before  their  time,  and  ex- 
haust them.  The  two  or  three  months  in  which  they  are  laid  by 
contributes  to  their  strength,  by  allowing  them  that  period  of 
complete  rest. 

The  autumn-flowering  bulbs,  such  as  the  Oolchicums,  the  Au- 
tumnal Crocus,  the  Yellow  Autumnal  Narcissus,  &c.,  should  be 
aken  up  in  May  or  early  in  June,  when  they  are  at  rest.  Trans- 
lant  them  now,  if  you  wish  to  remove  them ;  part  the  offsets, 

id  plant  them  six  inches  apart.     If  you  keep  them  out  of  the 

ound,  put  them  in  a  dry,  shady  place,  till  the  middle  of  July 
August,  when  you  must  plant  them  again,  to  blow  in  the  au- 

nn. 

Be  careful  to  take  up  bulbs  as  soon  as  the  leaves  decay.  If 
they  are  incautiously  left  in  the  ground  beyond  that  period,  they 
begin  to  form  the  bud  for  the  next  year's  flowers  ;  and  the  check 
of  a  removal  would  injure  them.  They  might  produce  flowers 
in  due  time,  but  they  would  be  weakly. 

The  little  offsets  will  not  flower  for  a  year  or  two.     They  may 


88  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

be  consigned  to  a  nursery-bed  to  remain  for  that  time,  in  order  to 
swell  and  strengthen  by  themselves. 

If  you  wish  to  procure  new  varieties  from  seed,  it  must  be 
sown  in  August.  The  healthiest  flower-stalk  should  be  chosen, 
*nd  deposited  in  pots  or  boxes  of  fine  light  earth,  for  the  con- 
venience of  removing  under  shelter  in  wet  or  frost.  Keep  the 
pots  or  boxes  in  the  shade  during  the  heats,  but,  as  the  cold 
weather  advances,  remove  them  to  a  warm  sheltered  spot.  Litter 
will  shelter  them  from  the  frost,  if  you  cannot  command  any 
other  covering.  The  plants  will  appear  early  the  following  May : 
they  must  be  kept  very  clear  from  weeds,  and  be  moderately 
watered  in  dry  weather.  These  seedlings  must  be  transplanted 
every  summer  to  be  thinned,  and  placed  further  apart  from  each 
other  till  they  blow,  when  they  may  be  removed  into  the  flower- 
beds. •  . 

This  method  is  troublesome,  and  requires  patience.  Tulip 
seedlings  are  seven  years  before  they  flower,  and  a  lady  may  find 
her  patience  severely  tried  in  waiting  for  their  blooms.  Seven 
years  is  a  large  portion  of  human  life.  If  you  can  persevere, 
however,  you  will  be  rewarded  by  beautiful  varieties  of  new  colors 
and  stripes. 

Fine  tulips  should  have  six  leaves,  three  on  the  outside  and 
three  on  the  inside,  and  the  former  should  be  broader  than  the 
latter.  The  stripes  upon  the  tulip  should  also  be  defined  and  dis- 
tinct, not  mixing,  with  the  ground  tints. 

Hyacinth  seedlings  are  four  years  before  they  flower ;  this  is 
not  so  harassing  a  period  as  the  Tulip  requires ;  but  every  plea- 
sure has  its  counterbalance.  If  you  will  have  fine  flowers,  you 
must  wait  for  them.  These  bulbs  love  a  sunny  situation. 

The  Orchis  tribe  prefer  a  moist  ground  and  a  northern  aspect. 
Columella  says,  that  when  orchis  bulbs  are  sown  in  autumn,  they 
germinate  and  bear  flowers  in  April. 


BULBOUS  PLANTS.  39 

The  Colchicums  or  narcissus  are  hardy  bulbs,  and  will  grow  in 
iny  sort  of  ground  ;  only,  the  better  the  soil  is,  the  finer  they 
will  flower. 

The  Guernsey  Lily  and  Belladonna  will  not  thrive  in  the  open 
ground,  therefore  it  is  needless  to  speak  of  those  very  splendid 
flowers. 

The  Lily  of  the  Valley,  though  scarcely  to  be  classed  among 
the  lily  tribe,  is  a  beautiful  flower,  and  as  fragrant  as  it  is  lovely. 
They  must  be  multiplied  by  dividing  the  roots,  which  should  be 
parted  with  a  knife,  as  they  are  very  intricate :  do  this  in  Decem- 
ber. Plant  them  three  inches  deep  in  the  ground,  and  disturb 
them  as  little  as  you  can  help,  as  they  do  not  like  to  be  often 
moved.  They  are  larger  in  their  flowers  when  grown  in  the 
shade,  but  they  are  sweeter  in  perfume  in  the  sun's  full  rays. 
Thin  broad  leaves  are  sufficient  shelter  to  the  flowers, 

All  bulbs  love  salt :  be  careful,  therefore,  to  throw  a  portion 
of  common  salt  or  brine  upon  your  compost  heap.  My  cousin, 
Cuthbert  W.  Johnson,  Esq.,  in  his  "  Observations  on  the  Em- 
ployment of  Salt,"  quotes  a  passage  in  a  letter  addressed  to  him 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Hogg,  the  eminent  florist,  upon  the  advantages 
of  salt  in  the  cultivation  of  flowers.  I  will  transcribe  it  here  : — • 

"  From  the  few  experiments  that  I  have  tried  with  salt  as  a  garden  ma- 
nure, I  am  fully  prepared  to  bear  testimony  to  its  usefulness.  In  a  treatise 
upon  flowers,  published  about  six  years  since,  I  remarked,  that  the  applica- 
tion of  salt,  and  its  utility  as  a  manure,  was  yet  imperfectly  understood.  It 
is  a  matter  of  uncertainty,  whether  it  acts  directly  as  a  manure,  or  only  as  a 
kind  of  spice  or  seasoning,  thereby  rendering  the  soil  a  more  palatable  food 
for  plants. 

"  The  idea  that  first  suggested  itself  to  my  mind,  arose  from  contemplating 
the  successful  culture  of  hyacinths  in  Holland.  This  root,  though  not  in- 
digenous to  the  country,  may  be  said  to  be  completely  naturalized  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Haerlem,  where  i;  grows  luxuriantly  in  a  deep,  sandy,  allu- 
vial soil .  yet  one  great  cause  of  its  free  gro  vth,  I  considered,  was  owing  to 
the  saline  atmos  --Sere  this  induced  me  to  mix  salt  in  the  compost;  and  I 


40  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

am  satisfied  that  no  hyacinths  will  grow  well  at  a  distance  frcm  the  sea 
without  it.  I  am  also  of  opinion,  that  the  numerous  bulbous  tribe  of  Amaryl- 
lisses,  especially  those  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  Ixias,  Aliums,  which 
include  Onions,  Garlic,  Shalots,  &c.,  Anemones,  various  species  of  the  Lily 
Antholyza,  Colchicum,  Crinum,  Cyclamens,  Narcissus,  Iris,  Gladiolus,  Ran- 
unculus, Scilla,  and  many  others,  should  either  have  salt  or  sea-sand  in  the 
mould  used  for  them. 

"  I  invariably  use  salt  as  an  ingredient  in  my  compost  for  carnations ;  a 
plant  which,  like  wheat,  requires  substantial  soil,  and  all  the  strength  and 
heat  of  the  summer,  to  bring  it  to  perfection ;  and  I  believe  I  might  say, 
without  boasting,  that  few  excel  me  in  blooming  that  flower." 

Colchicums,  the  Autumnal  Narcissus,  Amaryllis,  and  the  Au* 
tumn  Crocus,  should  be  planted  in  August,  to  blow  in  September 
and  October. 

Replant  all  the  bulbous  tribe  by  the  end  of  October,  at  the 
latest.  Choose  a  mild,  dry  day  to  put  them  in  the  ground,  and 
let  each  bulb  be  six  or  nine  inches  distant  from  its  companion. 
All  bulbs  become  weak  by  being  placed  too  closely  together,  the 
soil  becoming  soon  exhausted. 

Bulbs  of  the  more  choice  varieties  are  better  attended  to  if 
they  can  be  placed  in  beds  or  compartments  by  themselves ;  for 
they  are  more  easily  sheltered  from  frost  and  rain  when  in  a  body. 
The  eye,  also,  is  more  delighted  by  the  beautiful  variety  en  masse. 
Their  favorite  soil,  too,  can  be  composed  and  preserved  for  them 
more  exclusively,  unexhausted  by  the  roots  of  larger  plants  around 
them.  Some  of  the  commoner  sorts  can  be  planted  out  in 
patches,  to  add  to  the  gay  appearance  of  the  borders,  among  the 
spring  flowers. 

Martagons,  orange  lilies,  and  bulbs,  of  tall  growth,  should 
never  be  planted  among  the  smaller  tribe ;  their  large  bulbs 
would  exhaust  the  soil,  and  weaken  the  smaller  flowers.  They 
look  very  handsome  in  borders  and  plots,  placed  near,  or  in.  theii 
center. 


TUBEPOUS-ROOTED   FLOWERS. 


^,        LIST    OF    BULBOUS    AND    TUBEROUS-ROOTED    FLOWERS. 


Amaryllis.,  comprising  the  autumnal 

yellow  Narcissus 
Spring  ditto 
Crocus  vcrnus,   or    spring-flowering 

crocus 

Common  yellow 
Large  yellow 
Yellow,  with  black  stripes 
White 

White,  with  blue  stripes 
Blue,  with  white  stripes 
Deep  blue 
Light  blue 

White,  with  purple  bottom 
Scotch,  or  black  and  white  striped 
Cream-colored 
Autumnal  flowering    Crocus,   of  the 

following  varieties : — 
True   saffron   crocus,   with  bluisl 

flower,  and  golden  stigma,  which 

is  the  saffron 
Common    autumnal    crocus,  with 

deep  blue  flowers 
With  light  blue  flowers 
Many-flowered 

Snowdrop,  the  small  spring  flowering 
Common  single 
Double 

Leucojum,  or  great  summer  snowdrop 
Great  summer  snowdrqp  with  an- 
gular stalk :    a   foot   high,   and 

two    or    three   flowers  in  each 

sheath 
Taller  great  snowdrop,  with  many 

flowers 

Ornithogalum,  or  Star  of  Bethlehem 
Great  white  pyramidal,  with  nar- 
row leaves 
White,    with    broadsword-shaped 

leaves  spreading  on  the  ground 
Yellow 
Pyrenean,     with     whitish     green 

flowers 
Star    of    Naples,    with     hanging 

flowers 
Umbellated,  producing  its  flowers 

in  umbels,  or  spreading  munches, 

at  the  top  of  the  stalk  ' 
Low  yc  low  umbellated 


Erythronium:    Jens    canis,    or   dog^i 
tooth 

Round-leaved,  wrifh  red  flowers 

Same,  with  white  flowers 

The  same,  yellow 

Long  narrow-leaved,  with  purple 
and  with  white  flowers 

Grape  hyacinth 

Purple 

Blue 

White 

Musk  hyacinth 

White 

Ash-colored 

Blue  feathered  hyacinth 

Purple 

Musky,  or  sweet-scented,  with  full 
purple  flowers 

The  same,  with  large  purple  and 
yellow  flowers 

Great  African  Muscaria,  with  sul- 
phur-colored flower 
Fritillaria  checkered  tulip 

Early  purple,  variegated,  or  check- 
ered with  white 

Black,  checkered  with  yellow  spots 

Yellow,  checkered  with  purple 

Dark  purple,  with  yellow  spots, 
and  flowers  growing  in  an  um- 
bel 

Persian  lily,  with  tall  stalks,  and 
dark  purple  flowers  growing  in 
a  pyramid 

Branching  Persian  lily 
Corona  Imperialis,  crown  imperial,  a 
species  of  Fritillaria 

Common  red 

Common  yellow 

Yellow-striped 

Sulphur-colored 

Large-flowering 

Double  of  each  variety 

Crown  upon  crown,  or  with  two 
whorls  of  flowers 

Triple  crown  upon  crqwn,  or  with 
three  tiers  of  flowers  one  above 
another 

Gold-striped  leaved 

Silver-striped  leaved 


LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 


Tulip,  early  dwarf  tulip 

Tall,  or  most  common  tulip 

Early,  yellow  and  red  striped 

White  and  red  striped 

White  and  purple  striped 

White  and  rose  striped 

Tall,  or  late-flowering,  with  white 
bottoms,  striped  with  brown 

White  bottoms,  striped  with  violet 
or  black  brown 

White  bottoms,  striped  with  red 
or  vermilion 

Yellow  bottoms,  striped  with  dif- 
ferent colors,  called  Bizarres 
Double  Tulip,  yellow  and  red 

White  and  red 

Gladiolus,  corn  flag,  or  sword  lily, 
common,  with  sword-shaped 
leaves,  and  a  reddish  purple 
flower  ranged  on  one  side  of  the 
stalk 

The  same,  with  white  flowers 

Italian  with  reddish  flowers  ranged 
on  both  sides  of  the  stalk 

The  same,  with  white  flowers 

Great  red  of  Byzantium 

Narrow  grassy-leaved,  and  a  flesh- 
colored  flower,  with  channeled, 
long,  narrow,  four-angled  leaves, 
and  two  bell-shaped  flowers  on 
the  stalk 

Great  Indian 

Anemone,  wood  anemone,  with  blue 
flowers 

White  flowers 

Red  flowers 

Double  white 

Garden  Double  Anemone,  with  crim- 
son flowers 

Purple 

Red 

Blue 

White 

Red  and  white  striped 

Red,  white,  and  purple 

Rose  and  white 

Blue,  striped  with  white 
H&nunculus,  Turkey    with  a  single 
stalk,   and   large  double   bloo'- 
r*>d  flower 

Yelbw-flowered 


Persian,  with  branching  stalk,  ant 
large  double  flowers  of  innumer- 
able varieties,  of  which  .the-e  are 

Very  double  flowers 

Serni,  or  half  double 

(The  double   are    most  beaufiful, 

propagated  by  offsets) 
Pancratium,  sea  daffodil 

Common  white  sea  Narcissus,  with 
many  flowers  in  a  sheath,  and 
tongue-shaped  leaves 

Sclavonian,  with  taller  stems  and 
many  white  flowers,  and  sword- 
shaped  leaves 

Broad-leaved  American,  with  large 
white  flowers,  eight  or  ten  in  a 
sheath 

Mexican,  with  two  flowers 

Ceylon,  with  one  flower 
Holy  (Jlllium),  species  of  garlic  pro- 
ducing flowers 

Broad-leaved  yellow 

Great  broad-leaved,  with  lily 
flowers 

Broad-leaved,  with  white  flowers 
in  large  round  umbels 

Smaller  white  umbellated 

Purple 

Rose-colored 

Fumaria  bulbosa,  or  bulbous-roo*ed 
fumitory 

Greater  purple 

Hollow-rooted 

American,  with  a  forked  flower 
Narcissus,  or  daffodil,  common  double 
yellow  daffodil 

Single  yellow,  with  the  middle  cup 
as  long  as  the  petals 

While,  with  yellow  cups 

Double,  with  several  cups,  one 
within  another 

Common  white  narcissus,  with 
single  flowers 

Double  white  narcissus 

Incomparable,  or  great  nonsuch, 
with  double  flowers 

With  single  flowers 

Hoop  petticoat  narcissus,  or  rush, 
leaved  daffodil,  with  the  middle 
cup  larger  than  the  petals,  and 
very  broad  at  the  l>-im 


TUBEROUS-ROOTED   FLOWERS. 


Daffodil,  with  white  reflexed  pe- 
tals, and  golden  cups 

White  daffodil,  with  purple  cups 
Polyanthus  Narcissus,  having  rrany 
small  flowers  on  a   stalk,  from 
the  same   sheath.     Of  this  are 
the  following  varieties  : — 

White,  with  white  cups 

Yellow,  with  yellow  cups 

White,  with  yellow  cups 

White,  with  orange  cups 

White,  with  sulphur-colored  cups 

Yellow,  with  orange  cups 

Yellow,  with  sulphur-colored  cups 

With   several  intermediate  varie-  , 

ties 

Vutumnal  narcissus 
vfuil,  common  single 

'.Arge  single 

Common  double 

Double,  with  large  round  roots 
i   Hum,  the  lily,  common  white  lily    • 

«Vith  spotted  or  striped  flowers 

With  double  flowers 

With  striped  leaves 

White  lily,  with  hanging  or  pen- 
dent flowers 

Common  orange  lily,  with  large 
single  flowers  , 

With  double  flowers 

With  striped  leaves 

Fiery,  bulb-bearing  lily,  producing  i 
bulbs  at  the  joints  of  the  stalks 

Common  narrow-leaved 

Great  bioad-leaved 

Many-flowered 

Hoary 

Martagon  lily,  sometimes  called 
Turk's-.-ap,  from  the  reflexed 
position  of  their  flower-leaves. 
There  are  many  varieties,  and 
which  differ  from  the  other  sorts 
of  lilies  in  having  the  petals  of 
their  flowe<  s  reflexed,  or  turned 
backward.  The  varieties  are — 

Common  red  martagon,  with  very 
narrow  sparse*!  leaves,  or  such 
as  grow  without  order  all  over 
the  flowe.>stalk 

DoubU  martagon 

White 


Double  white 

White  spotted 

Scarlet,  with  broad  sparsed  leaves 

Bright  red,  many-flowered,  or  pom. 
pony,  with  short,  grassy,  sparsea 
leaves 

Reddish  hairy  martagon,  with 
leaves  growing  in  whorls  round 
the  stalk 

Great  yellow,  with  pyramidal 
flowers,  spotted 

Purple,  with  dark  spots,  and  broad 
leaves  in  whorls  round  the  stalk, 
or  most  common  Turk's-cap 

White  spotted  Turk's-cap 

Canada  martagon,  with  yellowish 
large  flowers  spotted,  and  leaves 
in  whorls 

Campscatense  ma-rtagon,  with 
erect  bell-shaped  flowers 

Philadelphia  martagon,  with  two 

erect  bright  purple  flowers 
Squills,  sea  onion,  or  lily  hyacinth, 
common   lily  hyacinth,  with  a 
lily  root  and  blue  flower 

Peruvian,  or  broad-leaved  hyacinth 
of  Peru,  with  blwe  flowers 

With  white  flcwers 

Early  white  starry  hyacinth 

Blue 

Autumnal  starry  hyacinth 

Larger  starry  blue  hyacinth  of  By- 
zantium 

Purple  star-flower  of  Peru 

Italian  blue-spiked  star-flower 
Asphodel  lily,  African  blue,  with  a 

tuberous  root 

Tuberose,  or  Indian  tuberous  hyacinth. 
It  produces  a  small  stem  three 
or  four  feet  high,  adorned  with 
many  white  flowers  of  great  fra- 
grance. 

The  varieties  are, — 
Fine  double  tuberose 
Single  tuberose 
Small-flowered 
Striped-leaved 

Iris  bulbosa,  or  bulbous  Iris,  Persian 
with  three  erect  blue  petals 
called  standards,  and  three  re- 
flexed  petals  called  falls,  whicb 


44 


LADIES    FLOWER   GARDENER. 


ars  variegated,  called  Persian 
bulbous  iris,  with  a  variegated 
flower 

Common    narrow-leaved  bulbous 
iris,  with  a  blue  flower 

White 

Yellow 

Blue,  with  white  falls 

Blue,  with  yellow  falls 

Greater  broad-leaved  bulbous  iris, 
with  a  deep  blue  flower 

Bright  purple 

Deep  purple 

Variegated 

Great,  with  broad  and  almost  plain 
or  fiat  leaves,  with  blue  flowers 

Purple 

Of  the  above  there  are  many  in- 
termediate varieties 
Hyacinth,  eastern,  with  large  flowers. 
Of  these  there  are  many  varie- 
ties, and  of  which  there  are  in- 
numerable intermediate  shades 
or  tints  of  color 
Of  double  sorts  there  are, — 
Blues 

Purple  blues 
Agatha  blues 
Whites 

Whites,  with  yellow  eyes 
Whites,  with  red  eyes 
Whites,   with  violet  or  purple 

eyes 

Whites,  with  rose-colored  eyes 
Whites,  with  scarlet  eyes 
Reds 
Incarnate,  flesh  or  rose-colored 

Of  single  sorts  there  are. — 

Blues,  of    various    shades,    as 

above 
Whites 
Reds 

Rose -colored 
With  many  intermediate  shades 

or  varieties 
(Muscaria) ,  or  musk  hyacinth 

Ash-colored 

White 

Obsolete  purple 

Greater  yellow  African 

Grape  hyacinth 


Purple 

Blue 

White 

Red 
Monstrous  flowering,  or  blue-fea» 

thered  hyacinth 

Comosed,  or  tufted  purple  hyacinth 
Amethystine  blue  hyacinth 
Nodding,  spiked,  red  hyacinth 
Non-script  small  English  hyacinth, 

or    harebells,   of  the   following 

varieties : — 
Common  blue  flowers  arranged  on 

one  side  of  the  stalk 
White 
Bell-shaped   blue  hyacinth,   with 

flowers   on   every  side    of   the 

stalk 
Bell-shaped    peach-colored,    with 

flowers  on  one  side  of  the  stalk 
These  are  very  hardy,  propagating 

by  offsets 
Hyacinth,    with    a    pale    purple 

flower 

Colchicums  in  variety 
Leontice,  lion's  leaf,  largest  yellow 

with   single   foot-stalks   to    the 

leaves 
Smaller  pale  yellow,  with  branched 

foot-stalks  to  the  leaves 
Cyclamen,  sow-bread,  European,  or 

common  autumn-flowering,  with 

a   purple    flower,    and   angular 

heart-shaped  leaves 
The  same,  with  a  black  flower 
The  same,  with  white  flowers 
Red  spring-flowering,  with  heart- 
shaped    leaves,    marbled    with 

white 

Entire  white,  sweet-smelling 
Purple      winter-flowering,     with 

plain  or  circular  shining  green 

leaves 

Purple  round-leaved  autumn-flow- 
ering 
Small,   or    anemone-rooted,    with 

flesh-colored  flowers   appearing 

in  autumn :    these   plants  hav 

large,   round,   sc!id    roots ;     tk  •  • 

flowers  and  leaves  rise 

ately  from  the  root 


FIBROUS-ROOTED   FLOWERS.  45 

Corona  Rcgalis,  or  royal  crown ;  re-  I  Jlconite,  the  winter 
quires  shelter  in  the  winter          I  Sisyrinchium 


AURICULA,   RANUNCULUS,  ANEMONE. 

These  early  and  beautiful  flowers  deserve  peculiai  notice,  for 
no  garden  looks  well  without  them,  and  their  bright  tints  delight 
the  eye  and  mind.  The  commonest  kinds  are  handsome  and  use- 
ful in  small  clumps,  and  a  little  care  and  trouble  will  raise  superb 
varieties 

The  Auricula  loves  a  soil  composed  of  kitchen-garden  mould, 
Eand,  and  cow-dung,  well  mixed  together ;  they  also  like  a  cool 
situation.  The  seed  should  be  sown  in  September,  and  when 
sown  give  it  a  gentle  watering.  By  sowing  the  seed  in  pots  or 
boxes,  you  can  remove  them  from  heavy  rains,  &c.,  without 
trouble,  and  shelter  them  in  the  outhouses  or  tool-house.  The 
seed  seldom  appears  under  six  months,  and  it  has  been  sometimes 
a  twelvemonth  producing  itself,  therefore  be  not  in  despair,  but 
remain  patient ;  these  freaks  of  nature  cannot  be  accounted  for. 
When  they  flower,  you  must  single  out  the  plants  which  bear 
the  finest  and  most  choice  blooms,  and  transplant  them  into  pots 
filled  with  the  compost  above  described.  The  common  sorts 
may  be  planted  in  the  borders,  to  remain  out  and  shift  for  them- 
selves. By  keeping  the  tine  auriculas  in  pots,  you  preserve  them 
through  the  winter  easily,  for  heavy  rains  and  cutting  winds  do 
them  harm.  You  can  sink  them  in  their  pots  during  summer  ic 
the  flower-beds,  but  let  them  be  sheltered  during  the  winter,  if 
you  wish  to  preserve  the  blooms  uninjured. 

Auriculas  multiply  also  by  suckers,  which  grow  on  their  roots. 
Take  off  these  in  February,  and  plunge  them  into  pots  of  the 
mould  they  like  best,  to  root  freely.  They  will  do  so  in  two 
months.  Auriculas  should  not  be  too  much  watered,  as  it  makea 
them  look  sickly,  and  the  leaves  become  yellow.  When  you  pot 


4:6  LADIES7   FLOWER   GARDENER. 

the  auriculas,  sink  them  up  to  their  leaves  in  the  soil,  but  do  not 
press  the  mould  round  the  plant,  as  the  flowers  bloom  finest  when 
the  roots  touch  the  sides  of  the  flower  pot. 

The  auricula  is  esteemed  fine  that  has  a  low  stem,  a  stalk  pro- 
portioned to  the  flower,  the  eye  well  opened,  and  always  dry. 
The  glossy,  the  velvet,  and  the  streaked  auriculas  are  the  most 
admired.  The  stalk  should  be  decked  with  many  flower-bells,  to 
be  handsome  and  healthy. 

Take  care  to  pull  off  all  dead  leaves  round  the  plant  at  all 
times,  that  it  may  appear  neat  and  clean.  Neatness  is  favorable 
to  its  perfect  growth,  as  well  as  decorating  it  to  the  eye. 

The  Ranunculus  does  not  like  being  mixed  up  with  other 
flowers,  and  from  this  "  aristocratic  principle  "  it  is  always  planted 
in  separate  knots 

This  flower  loves  sun  and  warmth.  The  root  must  be  planted 
in  September,  to  bloom  early  in  the  summer,  and  it  delights  in 
a  rich,  moist  soil,  well  dug,  and  raked  soft  and  fine.  When  you 
plant  them  in  beds  or  pots,  they  must  be  sunk  two  inches  deep, 
and  dibble  the  hole  with  a  round,  not  pointed,  dibble.  Place  the 
roots  four  or  five  inches  apart,  in  the  warmest  situation  in  youi 
garden.  By  planting  ranunculuses  in  pots,  you  can  more  easily 
place  them  in  warm  situations,  and  withdraw  them  from  heavy 
rains.  The  more  room  you  give  these  roots  the  finer  they  will 
grow  and  blow.  If  your  plots  will  allow  of  so  doing,  let  the 
roots  be  planted  six  or  seven  inches  apart.  The  flowers  will 
repay  your  care.  When  ranunculuses  in  pots  have  flowered,  re- 
move them  from  the  August  rains,  or  take  up  the  roots,  to  re- 
plant in  September. 

The  Ranunculus   with  the  double  white  flower  must  not  be 
taken  up  until  September,  when  it  should  be  taken  up 
its  roots  parted,  and  replanted  immediately 


ANEMONES.  47 

The  Yellow  Ranunculus  with  the  rue  leaf,  prefers  being  potted 
to  beins^  planted  in  beds. 

The  Ranunculus  propagates  by  seed  as  well  as  offsets.  Sow 
the  seed  as  you  do  that  of  the  auricula. 

The  most  admired  ranunculuses  are  the  white,  the  golden 
yellow,  the  pale  yellow,  the  citron- colored,  and  the  brown  red. 
The  red  is  the  least  esteemed.  The  yellow  ranunculus  speckled 
wkh  red,  is  handsome, — also  the  rose-color  with  white  inside. 

Great  varieties  are  obtained  by  seed. 

The  Anemones  love  a  light  soil,  composed  of  kitchen-garden 
mould,  and  sand,  and  leaf  mould,  well  mixed,  and  sifted  fine.  It 
should,  if  possible,  be  composed  a  year  before  it  is  used ;  the 
lighter  it  is  the  better  for  anemones. 

The  seed  should  be  sown  in  September.  The  single  flowers 
Alone  bear  seed,  which  is  fit  to  gather  when  it  appears  ready  to 
fly  away  with  the  first  gust  of  wind.  As  soon  as  the  seed  is 
lodged,  and  raked  smoothly  into  its  fine,  light  bed,  strew  the  bed 
over  with  straw  or  matting,  and  give  it  a  good  watering.  In 
three  weeks  the  seed  will  begin  to  rise,  when  the  straw  may  be 
removed.  The  young  plants  will  flower  in  the  following  April. 

When  the  roots  are  to  be  planted  in  September,  sink  them 
about  three  inches  deep,  and  six  inches  apart,  that  they  may 
come  up  strong  and  flower  well.  Make  a  hole  in  the  ground  for 
them  with  your  finger,  and  set  them  upon  the  broadest  side, 
with  the  slit  downwards. 

Those  anemones  planted  in  September  will  flower  in  March 
And  April,  and  the  roots  planted  in  May  flower  in  autumn,  but 
the  flowers  are  never  so  fine. 

When  anemones  have  done  flowering,  it  requires  some  care  in 
taking  up  the  roots,  in  order  to  part  and  put  them  by  till  the 
time  for  replanting  arrives.  The  roots  or  flaps  are  so  small  and 
difficult  to  distinguish,  that  the  earth  should  be  taken  up  and 


4:8  LADIES'  FLOWEK  GAKDENER. 

laid  upon  a  sieve  to  be  sifted,  when  the  flaps  will  alone  remain 
behind,  or  the  earth  may  be  deposited  upon  an  open  newspaper 
or  cloth,  and  well  rubbed  with  the  hand  to  feel  for  the  minute 
dark-colored  flaps,  which  may  easily  escape  observation. 

The  beauty  of  this  flower  consists  in  its  thickness  and  roundness, 
especially  when  the  great  leaves  are  a  little  above  the  thickness 
of  the  tuft. 

Choose  your  seed  from  the  finest  single  anemone,  with  a  broad, 
round  leaf. 

The  remaining  tuberous-rooted  flowers  are  very  hardy. 

BIENNIALS. 

Biennial  flowers,  as  the  name  implies,  are  plants  that  exist 
only  two  years.  They  are  propagated  by  seed,  rising  the  first 
year,  and  flowering  the  second.  If  they  continue  another  year, 
they  are  sickly  and  languid.  The  double  biennials  may  be  con- 
tinued by  cuttings  and  slips  of  the  tops,  as  well  as  by  layers  and 
pipings,  though  the  parent  flower  dies — but  they  are  not  so  fine. 
A  lady  should  have  a  space  of  ground  allotted  to  biennial  seed- 
lings, so  that  a  fresh  succession  of  plants  may  be  ready  to  supply 
the  place  of  those  which  die  away.  The  seeds  should  be  sown 
every  spring  in  light,  well-dug  earth  ;  the  young  plants  should 
be  kept  very  clean,  and  some  inches  apart  from  each  other ;  and 
they  must  be  finally  transplanted  in  autumn  into  the  beds  where 
they  are  intended  to  remain. 

But  there  is  a  great  uncertainty  as  to  raising  the  double  flowers , 
therefore  it  is  better  to  make  sure  of  those  you  approve  by  per- 
petuating them  as  long  as  you  can,  by  any  root  offsets  they  may 
throw  off, — by  pipings,  cuttings,  or  by  layers,  as  before  noticed 
I  subjoin  a  list  of  the  principal  and  useful  biennials. 


HARDY   BIENNIALS. 


49 


LIST    OF    HARDY    BIENNIALS. 


Canttrburv  Bells 

Bi  ere- flowers 

White 

Purple 

Pyramidal 

Carnation.     All  the  varieties,  some- 
what biennial-perennial. 
Clary,  Purple  topped 

Red-topped 
Colutea,  ^Ethiopian 
French  Honeysuckle 

Red 

White 

Globe  Thistle 

Hollyhocks.  Somewhat  biennial-per- 
ennial ;  all  the  varieties ;  always 
bv  seed 

Lunai TO-,  Moonwort  or  Honesty 
Mallow  (Tree) 

Red 

Scarlet 

Purple 

Red,  white-bordered 

Party-colored 

Variegated 

Painted  Lady 

Double  of  each 

Mule,  or  Mongrel  Sweet-william, 

or  Mule  Pink 

Tree  Mallow  (Lavatera  arborea) 
Tree  Primrose  «. 

Night  Stock 


Poppy,  Yellow-homed    (CluKdonium 

glaucum) 
Rocket,  Dame's  violet 

Single  white 

Double  white 

Double  purple 

Single  purple 
Rose  Campion 

Red 

White 
Scabius,  double 

Dark  purple-flowered 

Dark-red 

White 

Starry  purple-flowered 

Starry  white 

Jagged-leaved  starry 
Stock  Gilliflower 

Brompton 

Queen 

Twickenham 
Sweet-william 

Common  upright  tall  yellow 

Small-flowered 
Wall-flower 

Yellow-flowered 

Bloody 

White 

Double  of  each 
Petunia 

White 

Lilac 


When  you  make  your  seedling-bed  or  nursery,  cover  it  over 
with  straw,  or  fern,  or  matting,  during  frost ;  and  to  prevent  the 
birds  pecking  up  the  seeds,  it  is  requisite  to  protect  the  bed  by 
strewing  light  boughs  of  thorn  bushes  over  it,  or  fixing  a  net 
upon  sticks  as  a  covering,  till  the  plants  appear.  If  cats,  dogs 
or  poultry  intrude  into  the  flower  garden,  it  is  in  vain  to  hope  for 
enjoyment. 

Sow  your  biennial  seeds  in  March,  April,  or  May.  I  recom- 
mend May,  because  the  young  plants  in  that  month  germ  and 
3 


60  LADIES'  FLOWER  GAKDENER. 

vegetate  quickly,  surely,  and  without  requiring  defenses  from  the 
frost.  Plant  them  out  in  October,  with  a  ball  of  earth  to  each 
root,  where  they  are  to  remain. 

The  Stock  Gilliflowers  in  particular,  having  long,  naked  roots, 
must  be  planted  out  very  young,  otherwise  they  do  not  succeed 
well. 

Honesty  is  a  very  early,  rich-flowering  biennial,  which  requires 
no  care ;  they  shed  their  seed,  rise,  and  flower  without  any  assist- 
ance, in  profusion.  The  only  trouble  is  to  weed  it  out  of  the 
beds,  that  they  may  not  stand  in  the  way  of  other  flowers. 

Canterbury  Bells  are  handsome  flowers,  and  will  bloom  a  long 
time,  if  you  cut  off  the  bells  as  they  decay. 

The  deep  crimson  Sweet-williams  are  most  esteemed ;  though 
every  variety  looks  well. 

Sweet-williams  may  be  increased  by  layers  and  cuttings,  which 
is  the  only  sure  way  of  securing  the  sorts  you  like  ;  for  you  may 
sow  seed  every  year,  and  not  one  in  a  thousand  will  reward  you 
by  coming  up  double. 

Carnations  are  the  pride  of  a  garden,  and  deserve  great  care 
and  attention.  The  common  sorts,  which  are  planted  in  borders, 
should  have  a  good  rich  earth  about  them,  and  be  treated  like 
,the  pink ;  but  the  finer  s«rts  should  always  be  potted,  to  protect 
and  shelter  the  plant  from  hares,  rabbits,  heavy  rains,  and  severe 
frost  in  the  winter.  Refresh  the  top  of  the  pots  with  new  soil  in 
June,  and  keep  the  plants  free  from  decayed  leaves.  Gently  stir 
the  earth  round  each  plant  occasionally ;  and  as  plants  in  pots 
require  more  water  than  if  placed  in  the  ground,  let  the  carna- 
tions be  gently  moistened  about  every  other  day  during  dry  wea- 
ther. Let  the  watering  take  place  in  the  evening  ;  no  flower  will 
endure  being  watered  during  the  heat  oi  a  summer's  day.  Car- 
nations  love  sand  and  salt  in  proper  proportions.  The  brine  which 
is  deposited  upon  the  compost  heap  will  answer  every  purpose 


HOLLYHOCKS.  51 

of  salts,  ^if  it  be  regularly  carried  out),  without  adding  common 
salt:  but  let  this  be  particularly  attended  to.  The  cook  should 
deposit  her  pickle  and  brine  to  good  purpose  upon  the  compost 
heap,  instead  of  splashing  it  down  in  front  of  her  kitchen  door. 

Let  each  plant  be  well  staked,  and  neatly  tied  to  its  supporter ; 
and  do  not  allorw  two  buds  to  grow  side  by  side  upon  the  same 
stem,  for  one  will  weaken  the  other.  Pinch  off  the  smaller  bud. 
tarnations  love  warmth  ;  therefore  give  them  a  sunny  aspect  to 
blow  in.  The  seedling  plants  may  be  treated  like  young  pinks, 
but  this  difference  must  be  observed — pinks  love  shade,  and  car* 
nations  love  warmth.  A  bed  of  carnations  is  a  beautiful  object. 
The  pots  can  always  be  sunk  in  a  border  or  bed  in  fine  weather. 
Carnations  may  be  layered,  or  piped,  or  slipped  for  propagation. 

Water  your- carnations  in  pots  once  a  week  with  lime  water,  if 
they  appear  drooping,  for  this  proceeds  from  a  worm  at  the  root ; 
but  the  brine  will  destroy  all  insects  quickly,  when  poured  upon 
the  compost  heap. 

In  propagating  double  Wall- flowers,  take  slips  of  the  young 
shoots  of  the  head  :  this  will  perpetuate  the  double  property  and 
color  of  the  flower,  from  which  they  were  slipped.  In  saving 
seed  for  wall-flowers,  choose  the  single  flowers,  which  have  five 
petals  or  flower  leaves.  Double  flowers  have  no  seed. 

Water  the  slips,  and  keep  them  shady  and  moist :  they  will 
root  by  September. 

Plant  your  Hollyhocks  in  September  or  October,  where  they 
are  to  remain.  Hollyhocks  are  a  noble  flower,  and  they  love  a 
strong  soil.  Let  a  succession  of  these  flower  plants  be  attended 
to  in  the  biennial  seed-bed.  Keep  them  some  inches  apart  from 
each  other  in  the  seedling-bed,  for  they  form  large  straggling 
roots.  The  hollyhock  looks  well  in  clumps  of  three,  at  a  good 
distance  apart,  in  large  gardens  or  shrubberies,  but  they  ara 
somewhat  too  overgrown  for  smaller  parterres. 


62  LADIES7  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

Be  particular  in  gathering  your  seeds  on  a  fine,  dry  day,  and 
put  each  sort  in  a  separate  brown  paper  bag  till  you  require 
them.  The  very  finest  seedlings  are,  after  all,  those  which  spring 
near  the  mother  plant  from  self-sown  seed,  therefore,  when  you 
weed  or  dig  your  flower  borders,  be  careful  not  to  disturb  any 
seedlings  which  may  have  sprung  up.  They  always  make  strong, 
fine  blooming  plants. 

Take  care  of  your  double- flowering  plants  in  winter.  The 
double  wall-flower  is  hardy  enough  to  exist  in  the  borders,  but 
the  other  double  biennials  deserve  to  be  sheltered,  for  double 
flowers  are  very  handsome,  and  heavy  rains,  snow,  or  severe  frost, 
injures  them.  Take  cuttings  every  year  from  them. 

The  Night  Stock  is  tolerably  hardy  if  sheltered  during  the 
frost  by  ashes  or  litter.  The  sweetness  after  night-fall  must 
recommend  it  to  all  the  lovers  of  fragrant  flowers. 

PROPAGATING    BIENNIALS. 

Every  young  lady  must  become  acquainted  with  tht  manner 
of  operating  upon  plants,  to  preserve  the  finer  sorts,  which  they 
may  wish  to  perpetuate.  Raising  from  seed  is  slow,  but  it  pro- 
duces infinite  variety.  You,  however,  rarely  see  the  same  flower 
produced  twice  from  seed  ;  therefore  you  must  propagate  the 
biennial  and  perennial  flowers  by  layers,  slips,  pipings,  and  cut- 
tings, if  you  wish  to  preserve  any  particular  sorts. 

To  effect  layers,  prepare  some  rich,  light  earth,  a  parcel  of 
small  hooked  sticks,  or  little  pegs,  and  a  sharp  penknife. 

Now  clear  the  ground  about  the  plant  you  are  going  to  layer ; 
stir  the  surface  well  with  your  trowel,  and  put  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity of  the  prepared  mould  round  the  plant  as  will  raise  the  sur- 
face to  a  convenient  height  for  receiving  the  layer. 

Cut  off  the  top  of  each  shoot  with  your  knife,  about  twc  inches, 


PROPAGATING  BIENNIALS.  63 

»nd  pull  off  the  lower  leaves ;  then  fix  upon  a  joint  about  the 
middle  of  the  shoot,  and,  placing  your  knife  under  it,  slit  the 
shoot  from  that  joint,  rather  more  than  half  way  up,  towards  the 
joint  above  it. 

Now  make  an  opening  in  the  earth,  and  lay  the  stem,  and  slit 
or  gashed  shoot,  into  it,  and  peg  it  down ;  taking  care  to  raise 
the  head  of  the  shoot  as  upright  as  you  can,  that  it  may  grow 
shapely  ;  then  cover  it  with  the  new  mould,  and  press  the  mould 
gently  round  it.  Do  this  by  each  shoot  till  the  plant  is  layered — 
that  is,  till  every  shoot  is  laid  down.  They  must  be  watered 
often  in  dry  weather,  but  moderately,  not  to  disturb  or  wash 
away  the  soil  round  the  layers.  In  six  weeks'  time,  each  gashed 
or  slit  shoot  will  have  rooted,  and  become  a  distinct  plant.  They 
may  be  taken  away  from  the  old  parent  stem  in  September,  and 
dug  up  with  a  ball  of  earth  round  each  root,  to  be  transplanted 
into  the  plots  or  borders  where  they  are  to  remain. 

Carnations,  pinks,  sweet-williams,  double  wall-flowers,  <fec.,  are 
the  flowers  most  deserving  of  layers. 

Piping,  which  belongs  almost  exclusively  to  carnations  and 
pinks,  is  a  most  expeditious  mode  of  raising  young  plants. 

Take  off  the  upper  and  young  part  of  each  shoot,  close  below 
a  joint,  with  a  sharp  knife,  and  cut  each  off  at  the  third  joint,  or 
little  knob  ;  then  cut  the  top  leaves  down  pretty  short,  and  take 
off  the  lower  and  discolored  ones.  When  you  have  piped  in  this 
•way  as  many  as  you  require,  let  them  stand  a  week  in  a  tumbler 
of  water,  which  greatly  facilitates  their  doing  well.  Indeed,  I 
never  failed  in  any  pipings,  slips,  or  cuttings,  which  I  allowed  to 
soak  and  swell  in  water  previous  to  planting. .  When  you  plant 
the  pipings,  let  the  ground  be  nicely  dug,  and  raked  very  fine  ; 
dibble  no  hole,  but  gently  thrust  each  piping  half  way  down  into 
the  soft  earth,  slightly  pressing  the  earth  round  each,  to  fix  it  in 
the  bed.  Water  them  often  if  the  weather  is  dry,  but  moder- 


64  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

ately,  just  to  keep  them  moist ;  and  shade  them  from  the  hot  sun 
in  the  day.  If  p'pings  are  covered  with  a  hand-glass,  they  root 
earlier,  by  three  weeks,  than  those  which  are  exposed. 

Laying,  piping,  and  slipping,  are  done  in  June  and  July.  The 
plants  will  be  well  rooted,  and  fit  to  plant  out,  in  October. 

The  operation  of  slipping  is  easy.  Tear  the  top  shoots  of  the 
plant  to  be  so  propagated,  gently  from  their  sockets ;  hold  the 
shoot  between  your  finger  and  thumb,  as  near  the  socket  as  you 
can,  and  it  will  tear  as  easily  and  neatly  as  you  carve  the  wing 
of  poultry  or  game.  Place  the  slips  in  water  for  a  few  days 
previous  to  planting  them,  like  pipings.  They  will  root  in  six 
•weeks  or  two  months,  if  kept  shady  and  moist. 

Cuttings  must  be  made  of  shoots  of  the  last  year's  growth  of 
roses,  honeysuckles,  &c.,  and  planted  in  February.  Choose  the 
strong  shoots,  and  do  not  cut  them  less  than  six  inches  long. 
Cut  them  with  your  knife  in  a  slanting  direction.  Plant  them  in 
a  shady  place,  each  cutting  half  way  in  the  ground,  which  should 
be  cleaned,  and  well  dug  and  raked,  to  receive  them.  Cuttings 
made  in  February  will  root  well  by  October. 

Cuttings  of  flower  stalks,  such  as  scarlet  lychnis,  should  be 
done  in  May,  June,  and  July.  Take  cuttings  from  the  youngest 
flower  stems,  and  plant  them  carefully  in  nice  mould,  like  pip- 
ings. These  flower  cuttings  should  be  in  lengths  of  four  joints 
each.  Covering  them  with  a  hand-glass  raises  them  very  quickly. 
They  root  in  two  months. 

Where  hand-glasses  are  not  to  form  any  part  of  a  lady's 
arrangements,  oil-papered  frames  are  equally  useful.  I  have 
seen  very  economical  and  useful  frames  made  of  bamboo,  in  the 
form  of  hand-glasses,  covered  neatly  with  glazed  white  cotton  or 
linen,  or  horn  paper,  made  by  a  lady  with  great  celerity  and  in- 
genuity ;  and  her  cuttings  and  pipings  succeeded  under  them 
adTiiraHy.  Whatever  shelters  cuttings  and  pipings  from  the 


PROTECTION  FOR  CUTTINGS.  65 

rays  of  the  sun  effects  a  material  purpose.  Linen  is  the  best 
shelter  in  the  world  from  heat,  but  oiled  or  horn  paper  resists 
rain  better. 

Dr.  Priestley  is  of  opinion  that  salt  water  is  very  efficacious  for 
cuttings,  if  they  are  placed  in  it  for  a  few  days  previous  to  plant- 
ing. He  remarks  that  it  is  a  custom  with  the  importers  of  exotic 
plants  to  dip  cuttings  in  salt  and  water,  otherwise  they  would 
perish  on  the  passage. 


LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENEB. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ANNUALS. 

)NNUALS,  as  I  have  observed  before,  are  flowers  that 
rise,  bloom,  and  die  in  the  same  year ;  and  must  there- 
fore be  raised  from  seed  every  year. 

The  first  class  of  annuals,  being  very  delicate,  and  requiring 
great  care,  with  the  constant  assistance  of  glass  frames,  I  shall 
not  even  name,  since  they  do  not  enter  into  the  nature  of  my 
work. 

I  proceed  to  the  second  class,  which  are  hardier  than  the 
above,  though  f  they  should  be  raised  in  a  warm  border,  and 
be  covered  with  a  hand-glass,  if  you  wish  them  to  flower  in  good 
time. 

The  ten  weeks'  Stocks  will  grow,  if  sown  in  a  warm  border, 
towards  the  end  of  March,  and  should  be  afterwards  transplant- 
ed ;  but  if  brought  up  in  a  hot-bed,  they  will  flower  a  month  or 
six  weeks  earlier. 

The  China-aster,  Chrysanthemum,  white  and  purple  Sultan, 
African  and  French  Marigolds,  Persicarias,  &c.,  will  grow  well  in 
a  warm  border  of  natural  earth,  if  sown  in  April ;  but  they  also 
flower  a  month  earlier  if  they  are  assisted  by  a  hot-bed  or  glass. 
These  annuals  must  be  all  planted  out  when  tolera"bly  strong,  into 
the  spots  where  they  are  destined  to  remain  in  the  borders,  tak- 
ing care  to  allow  to  each  plant  plenty  of  space,  that  they  may 
not  crowd  each  other.  The  China-aster  branches  into  many 
stems  and  lowers,  therefore  they  may  be  planted  singly,  or  not 


ANNUALS,  67 

less  than  six  inches  apart.  The  July  flowers,  or  more  commonly 
called  gilliflowers,  become  expansive  as  they  increase,  They 
should  not  be  crowded  together;  three  in  a  group  are  quite 
sufficient,  and  they  should  be  six  inches  apart.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  the  stock  varieties. 

I  have  ever  found  the  hardy  annuals  grow  finest  by  allowing 
them  to  become  self-sown.  They  flower  some  weeks  earlier,  and 
invariably  produce  larger  and  brighter  flowers. 

When  gathering  my  flower  seeds  in  August  and  September,  I 
allow  one  half  to  remain  sprinkled  over  the  borders ;  and  the 
young  plants  never  fail  appearing  healthy  and  strong  above 
ground  in  March  and  April,  the  months  appropriated  to  sowing 
the  seed.  Thus,  my  Lavateras,  Larkspurs,  <fec.,  are  in  beautiful 
blow,  while  the  second  crop,  or  seeds  sown  in  spring,  are  but 
showing  their  green  heads  above  the  surface.  I  weed  away  the 
superfluous  self-sown  plants  to  my  taste ;  but  the  birds  take  care 
that  no  one  shall  be  encumbered  with  a  superfluity.  I  have  by 
this  means  a  first  and  second  crop  of  the  same  annuals,  but  the 
crop  of  self-sown  are  far  superior.  They  are  up  before  the  heats 
come  on,  to  dry  the  earth,  and  dwindle  the  flower. 

Dig  the  ground  well  with  your  trowel,  and  rake  it  very  fine, 
before  you  put  in  the  seeds  in  spring.  Annuals  love  a  light, 
friable  soil.  All  the  hardy  kinds  may  be  sown  in  March,  each 
sort  in  little  separate  patches,  as  follows  : — • 

Draw  a  little  earth  off  the  top  to  one  side,  then  sprinkle  in  the 
seed,  not  too  plentifully,  and  cover  it  again  with  the  drawn-off 
earth.  Half  an  inch  is  sufficient  depth  for  small  seed.  The 
larger  kind,  such  as  sweet-peas,  lupins,  &c.,  must  be  sown  an 
inch  in  depth.  When  the  plants  have  been  up  some  time,  thin 
them  well.  The  more  space  you  have,  the  finer  the  plants  will 
me. 

The  hardy  annuals  will  not  bear  transplanting :  they  must  bo 

3* 


68  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

left  to  flourish  -where  they  are  sown.  The  large  kinds,  such  as 
the  lavatera  or  mallow,  should  only  be  sown  in  groups  of  three 
plants  together.  The  lupin  tribe  should  not  exceed  five  plants  in 
i  group.  The  Convolvulus,  also,  requires  four  or  five  plants  only 
in  a  group.  Water  the  patches  in  dry  weather  moderately,  and 
be  careful  never  to  use  pump  water.  If  you  have  no  soft  water, 
a  tub  should  be  placed  in  the  garden  to  receive  rain  water  ;  and 
if,  as  in  towns,  pump  water  must  be  chiefly  used,  let  it  remain  a 
day  or  two  in  the  tub,  to  soften  in  the  air  and  sunshine. 

The  first  week  in  April  is  the  safest  period  for  sowing  annuals, 
as  the  cutting  winds  have  ceased  by  that  time,  and  frost  is  not  so 
much  to  be  apprehended.  The  soft  rains,  also,  fall  in  warm 
showers,  to  give  life  and  germ  to  seeds  and  plants,  and  they 
appear  in  a  shorter  space  of  time. 

Those  ladies  who  live  in  the  vicinity  of  nursery  gardens  have  a 
great  advantage  over  the  more  remote  flower-fanciers.  They  can 
be  supplied,  at  a  trifling  expense,  with  all  the  tender  annuals 
from  hot-beds,  either  in  pots,  or  drawn  ready  for  immediate 
transplanting. 

If  you  do  not  raise  your  own  seed,  be  careful  how  you  pur- 
chase  your  stock,  and  of  whom  you  receive  it.  Many  seedsmen 
sell  the  refuse  of  many  years'  stock  to  their  youthful  customers, 
and  produce  great  disappointment.  There  is  one  way  of  ascer- 
taining the  goodness  of  the  seed,  which  will  not  deceive.  Pre- 
vious to  sowing,  plunge  your  lupin,  sunflower,  <fec.,  seeds  into  a 
tumbler  of  water :  the  good  seed  will  sink,  while  the  light  and 
useless  part  remains  floating  on  the  surface. 

If  you  grow  your  own  seed,  exchange  it  every  two  years  with 
your  neighbors.  Seeds  love  change  of  soil :  they  degenerate, 
if  repeatedly  grown  and  sown  upon  the  same  spot,  particularly 
Bweet-peas. 

Sweet-peas  should  be  puv  into  the  ground  early  in  March,  foi 


ANNUALS.  59 

they  will  bear  the  wind  and  weather.  Make  a  circle  rcmd  a 
pole,  or  some  object  to  which  they  may  cling  as  they  rise  ;  und 
put  the  peas  an  inch  deep,  having  soaked  them  previously  in 
water  well  saturated  with  arsenic,  to  guard  them  from  the  depre- 
dations of  birds  and  mice.  Add  an  outer  circle  of  peas  every 
month,  so  that  a  continual  bloom  may  appear.  The  circle  first 
sown  will  ripen  and  pod  for  seed  in  the  center,  while  the  outer 
vines  will  continue  flowering  till  late  in  the  autumn.  When  you 
have  gathered  a  sufficient  number  of  ripe  pods,  cut  away  all  the 
pods  which  may  afterwards  form  with  your  knife.  This  strength- 
ens the  vines,  and  throws  all  their  vigor  into  repeated  blooms. 

Be  very  careful  to  throw  away  the  arsenic  water  upon  your 
heap  of  compost,  and  do  not  put  that  powerful  poison  into  any 
thing  which  may  be  used  afterwards  in  the  house.  Soak  the 
peas  in  a  flower-pot  saucer  which  is  never  required  for  any  other 
purpose,  and  keep  it  on  a  shelf  in  the  tool-house,  covered  up. 
Three  or  four  hours'  soaking  will  be  sufficient.  If  the  wind  and 
frosts  be  powerful  and  continued,  shelter  the  peas  through  March, 
by  covering  them  with  straw  or  matting  every  evening. 

I  have  got  sweet-peas  into  very  early  blow  by  bringing  them 
up  in  pots  in-doors,  and  transplanting  them  carefully  in  April, 
without  disturbing  the  roots.  In  doing  this,  push  your  finger 
gently  through  the  orifice  at  the  bottom  of  the  flower-pot,  and 
raise  its  contents  "  bodily."  Then  place  the  ball  of  earth  and 
plants  into  a  hole  troweled  out  to  receive  it ;  cover  it  round  gently, 
and,  if  the  weather  is  dry,  water  it  moderately. 

Ten-weeks'  Stock  is  a  very  pretty  annual,  and  continues  a  long 
time  in  bloom.  Mignionette  is  the  sweetest  of  all  perfumes,  and 
chould  be  sown  in  September  for  early  blowing,  and  again  in 
March  for  a  later  crop.  It  is  always  more  perfumy  and  healthy, 
if  dug  into  the  ground  in  autumn  to  sow  itself.  Venus'  Looking- 
glass  is  a  very  pretf  y,  delicate  flower.  Indeed,  every  annual  is 


60 


LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 


lovely ;  and  the  different  varieties  give  a  gay  and  rich  appearance 
to  the  flower  garden  during  the  three  summer  months. 

The  Clarkias  are  very  pretty  annuals,  with  a  hundred  other 
varieties  lately  introduced,  and  which  are  all  specified  in  Mrs. 
Loudon's  new  work  upon  annuals.  My  plan  is,  to  give  a  general 
idea  of  their  treatment  only,  under  the  classification  of  hardy 
annuals,  or  those  annuals  which  may  be  nurtured  without  a  hot- 
bed. 

Keep  your  annuals  from  looking  wild  and  disorderly  in  a 
garden  by  allotting  the  smaller  kinds  their  separate  patches  of 
ground ;  and  trim  the  larger  annuals  from  branching  among  other 
flowers.  For  instance,  cut  away  the  lower  branches  of  the  China- 
aster,  the  African  marigold,  &c.,  and  train  the  plant  erect  and 
neatly  to  a  slight  rod  or  stick ;  out  away  the  flowers  as  they 
droop,  reserving  one  or  two  of  the  finest  blooms  only  for  seed : 
and  let  each  plant  look  clean  and  neat  in  its  own  order.  By 
cutting  away  flowers  as  they  droop,  the  plant  retains  vigoi 
enough  to  continue  throwing  out  fresh  flowers  for  a  long  peiiod. 

SECOND,    OR    LESS    TENDER   CLASS    OF    ANNUALS. 


African  Marigold,  the  orange 

Yellow 

Straw-colored 

Double  of  each 

Double-quilled 
French  Marigold,  the  striped 

The  yellow 

Sweet-scented 
China-aster,  the  double 

Double  purple 

Double  white 

Double-striped 
Marvel  of  Peru,  the  red  striped 

Yellow-striped 

Long-tubed 
Chrysanthemum,  the  double  white 

Double  yellow 

Double-quilled 

Sultan,  the  yellow 


White 

Red 
Indian  Pink,  double 

Single 

Large  imperial 
Alkekengi 
Palma  Christi,  the  common 

Tall  red-stalked 

Smaller  green-leaved 

Smallest 
Tobacco,  long-leaved  Virginia 

Broad-leaved 

Branching  perennial 
Love  Apple,  with  red  fruit 

With  yellow  fruit 
Gourds,  the  round  smooth  orange 

Rock,  or  warted 

Pear-shaped  yellow 

Pear-shaped  striped 


ANNUALS. 


61 


St«ne  colored 

Bottle  Gourd,  some  very  large,  from 
two  or  three  to  five  or  six  feet 
long,  and  of  various  shapes 

Momordica  Balsamina 

Persicaria 

Indian  Corn,  the  tall  Dwarf 

Nolana prost rata,  blue 

Convolvulus,  scarlet- flowered 

yellow  Balsam,  or  Touch-me-not 

Capsicum,  long  red  podded 
Long  yellow-podded 
Red.  short,  thick,  roundish  podded 
With  heart-shaped  pods 
With  cherry-shaped  fruit,  red 
Cherry-shaped  fruit,  yellow 

Basil,  the  common,  or  sweet-scented 
Bush  basil 


Zinnia,  red 

Yellow 
Amaranthus 
Tree  Jlmaranthus 

Prince's  feather  amaranthus 

Love-lies-bleeding  amaranthus 
i  Cannacorus,  yellow 

Red 

Chinese  Hollyhock,  the  variegated 
Ten-week  Stock  Gilliflower 

The  double  red 

Double  white 

Double  purple 

White  Ten-week   Stock,  with  a  wall- 
flower leaf 

With  double  and  single  flowers 

The  double  of  this  sort  makes  u 
pretty  appearance 


The  following  are  hardy  annuals,  requiring  no  assistance  of 
artificial  heat,  but  should  all  be  sown  in  the  place  where  ii  is 
designed  they  shall  flower : — 


Jldynis  Flower,  or  Flos  Adonis,  the 
red-flowering 

The  yellow 
Candytuft,  the  large 

Purple 

White 
Larkspur,  the  double  rose 

Double-branched 

Large  double  blue 

Double  white 
Lupins,  the  rose. 

Large  blue 

Small  blue 

Yellow 

White 

Scarlet 

Marbled 
Sunflower,  the  tall  double 

Double  dwarf 
Lavatera,  red 

White 

Poppy,  the  double  tall  striped  car- 
nation 

Dwarf-striped 

Double  corn  poppy 

H  >rned  poppy 


Convolvulus,  major 

Minor 

Striped 

White 

Scarlet 

Ketmia  bladder 
Starry  Scabius 
Hawkweed,  the  yellow 

Purple,  or  red 

Spanish 
Carthamus    tinctorius,    or    saffron 

flower 
Nasturtium,  the  large 

Small 

Cerinthe  major,  or  great  Honey-wort 
Tangier  Pea 
Sweet  Pea,  the  painted  lady 

The  purple 

White 

Scarlet 
Winged  Pea 
Crowned  Pea 

Nigella,  or  devil  in  a  busk   the  long 
blue,  or  Spanish 

The  white 

Ori«ntal  mallow, 


LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 


Venetian  mallow 
LobeVs  Catchfly,  white  and  red 
drbiscus 
Pimpernel 
Dwarf  Lychnis 
Venus1  s  Navel-wort 
Venus 's  Looking-glass 
Virginian  Stock 
Strawberry  Spinach 
Noli  me  tangerc,  or  Touch-me-not 
Heart's  Ease 
Snail  Plant 

Larye  ditto 
Caterpillar  Plant 
Hedgehog  Plant 

•Antirrhinum^  snap-dragon,  ;he  annual 
Nolana,  blue 
Cyanus.  or  corn-botile,  tha  red 

White 

Blue 

Roman  Nettle 

Gtfoidere,  or  summer  cypress 
Garden,   or  common,  Marigold ,   the 
common  single 

Dcubie  orange 


Double  lemon-colored 

Double  lemon-colored  ranunculus 

marigold 
Annual  Cape  Marigold,  with  a  violet 

and  white  flower 

Mignionettc,  or  reseda,  the   sweet- 
scented 

The  upright 
Xeranthemum,  or  eternal  flower,  ret< 

and  white 
Purple  Clary 
Purple  Jacobasa 
Dracocephalum,  the  purple 

Blue 

Capnoidcs^  or  bastard  fumitory 
Ten- week  Stock  Gillijlowers,  in  variety 
Persicaria 
Tobacco  Plant 

Long-leaved, 

Round-leaved 
Indian  Corn 
Amethystea 
Globe  Thistle 
Clarkia* 


KOSES  AND  JASMINES.  63 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ROSES    AND    JASMINES. 

!,liESE  most  delicious,  most  elegant  flowers — in  themselves 
a  garden — are  worthy  of  a  chapter  devoted  exclusively 
to  their  culture.  What  cottage  exists  without  its  roses 
twined  around  the  doorway,  or  blooming  up  its  pathway  ? 
What  is  sentiment  without  its  roses?  What  other  flower  illus- 
trates the  beauty  and  excellence  of  a  loved  one  ? — 

"  Oh !  my  love  is  like  the  red,  red  rose> 
That  sweetly  blows  in  June." 

Every  gentle  feeling,  every  exquisite  thought,  every  delicate 
allusion,  is  embodied  in  the  rose.  It  is  absurd  to  say  the  rose  by 
any  other  name  "  would  smell  as  sweet."  It  is  not  so.  Poetry, 
painting,  and  music,  have  deified  the  rose.  Cull  it  "  nettle,"  and 
we  should  cast  it  from  our  hands  in  disgust. 

There  are  innumerable  varieties  of  roses,  from  the  cottage  rose 
to  the  fairy  rose,  whose  buds  are  scarcely  so  large  as  the  bells  of 
the  lily  of  the  valley.  Mrs.  Gore  mentions  some  hundreds  of 
sorts,  but  such  a  catalogue  is  too  mighty  to  insert  in  my  little 
work.  I  will  name  only  the  well-known  hardy  kinds,  and  refer 
ray  reader  to  Mrs.  Gore  herself  for  the  complete  collection.  Seed 
yields  such  inexhaustible  varieties,  that  a  new  list  will  be  required 
every  ten  years. 

The  Damask  rose  is  very  useful  from  its  properties,  as  well  as 
its  beauty  and  hardihood.  Rose-v^ter  is  distilled  from  thii 
bright,  thickly -bio  wing  flower 


64  LADIES'  FLOWEU  SARDENEK. 

The  Cabbage  roses  is  the  most  beautiful,  as  well  as  the  most 
fragrant  of  roses.  All  others  are  varieties  of  roses,  but  this  grand 
flower  is  the  "  rose  itself." 

It  throws  out  suckers  plentifully  for  propagating  its  kind  ;  and 
every  two  or  three  years,  the  root  of  each  bush  will  part  into 
separate  plants.  Cut  the  roots  slanting  with  a  sharp  knife  as 
you  divide  them.  A  very  small  bit  of  root  is  sufficient  for  a  rose- 
bush, a3  they  are  hardy  in  their  nature.  Do  not  move  roses 
oftener  than  you  can  help :  they  delight  in  being  stationary  for 
years. 

In  pruning  roses  of  every  description,  which  should  be  effected 
in  January,  shorten  all  the  shoots  to  nine  inches  only,  and  cut 
away  all  the  old  wood,  which  becomes  useless  after  two  or  three 
years'  growth.  This  treatment  insures  fine  flowers. 

Roses  love  a  good  soil,  as,  indeed,  what  flower  does  not? 
Fresh  mould  applied  to  them  every  two  or  three  years,  or 
manure  dug  round  them  annually,  preserves  them  in  constant 
vigor  and  beauty. 

Shoots  of  rose-bushes  laid  down  and  pegged  like  layers,  only 
without  gashing,  when  the  flowers  are  in  bloom,  will  root  and 
become  plants  in  the  autumn.  Pinch  off  their  buds,  that  they 
may  throw  their  strength  into  their  roots. 

Roses  are  often  observed  to  change  their  color,  which  effect 
proceeds  chiefly  from  bad  soil.  When  this  occurs,  manure  the 
root  of  the  bush  or  plant.  A  clay  soil,  well  dressed  with  ashes, 
is  the  best  of  all  soils  for  the  hardy  roses. 

Moss  roses  love  a  cool  soil  and  a  cool  aspect.  They  soon  fade 
in  a  hot  sun. 

A  pyramid  of  climbing  roses  is  a  beautiful  object  in  a  garden. 
Iron  or  wooden  stakes,  twelve  feet  in  height,  gradually  approach* 
ing  each  other,  till  they  meet  at  the  top,  with  climbing  rosea 
trained  up  their  sides,  is  a  pleasing  and  easily  constructed  orna- 


EOSES  AND  JASMINES.  65 

ment.  Fancy  and  taste  may  range  at  will  in  inventing  forms  to 
ornament  the  parterre  with  roses.  Beds  of  roses,  raised  pyramid- 
ally, have  a  splendid  effect.  When  the  flowers  die  away  in  the 
autumn,  the  mass  may  be  clipped  again  into  form,  with  the 
garden  shears,  as  you  wjuld  clip  a  laurel  hedge. 

Standard  roses,  which  are  so  much  in  fashion  at  this  time,  and 
which  always  remind  one  of  a  housemaid's  long  broom  for  sweep- 
ing cobwebs,  are  beyond  a  lady's  own  management,  as  budding 
is  a  troublesome  business,  and  very  frequently  fails.  I  will  not, 
therefore,  touch  upon  that  subject. 

The  double  yellow  rose  is  very  elegant.  It  requires  a  western 
aspect,  and  even  prefers  north  and  east,  but  a  warm  aspect  in- 
jures its  beauty.  It  loves  a  good  substantial  soil,  and  will  not 
bear  much  cutting  or  removing.  Let  it  alone  in  its  glory,  only 
pruning  away  the  old  scraggy  wood  occasionally,  to  strengthen 
the  plant. 

The  monthly  rose  is  also  a  lover  of  the  north  and  east.  It 
blooms  through  the  autumn  and  winter,  has  an  evergreen  leaf, 
and  loves  a  strong  soil.  It  must  be  propagated  by  cuttings,  and 
parting  the  roots,  as  it  never  throws  up  suckers.  Prune  away 
the  old  wood,  and  make  cuttings  in  June,  July,  and  August,  of 
the  branches  you  clear  away.  Plant  the  cuttings  in  loose,  moist 
earth,  and  do  not  let  them  bud  till  the  following  year.  Let  the 
cuttings  be  sunk  two  joints  in  the  earth,  leaving  only  one  exposed. 
The  monthly  rose  climbs,  or  creeps. 

The  Austrian  briar,  or  rose,  will  not  flower  if  exposed  to  the 
south.  It  bears  a  rich  mass  of  flowers,  yellow  outside,  and  deep 
red  within.  Give  it  an  eastern  or  western  aspect. 

The  perpetual,  or  "  four-season "  rose,  requires  a  rich  soil. 
The  flower  buds  appearing  in  June  or  July  should  be  pinched 
off,  and  in  winter  the  plant  may  be  pruned  as  closely  as  its 


66 

hardier  companions.  Place  the  four- season  rose  in  a  sheltered 
situation  from  winds. 

Among  the  hardy  climbing  roses,  the  Ayrshire  rose  is  the  most 
useful.  Its  foliage  is  rich,  and  it  covers  fences,  walls,  &c.,  with 
astonishing  rapidity.  It  flowers  in  July.  Place  it  in  a  warm 
situation,  and  it  will  extend  thirty  feet  in  one  season. 

Lady  Banks 's  yellow  rose  is  a  pretty  climber,  and  flowers  early 
in  all  situations.  So  does  the  Rosa  sempervirens. 

Climbing  roses  will  grow  luxuriantly  under  the  shade  of  trees, 
and  form  a  mass  of  fragrant  underwood  in  shrubberies.  They 
grow  with  surprising  vigor  if  .allowed  to  remain  prostrate.  Plant 
these  thinly,  and  lay  in  the  most  vigorous  shoots,  by  pegging 
them  down  into  the  ground.  This  process  increases  the  plants 
rapidly,  and  gives  the  gayest  possible  effect. 

The  Rosa  hybrida  multiflora  is  a  hardy  and  rapidly  growing 
rose.  It  flowers  also  from  June  to  September.  So  does  the  red 
and  crimson  Boursault,  and  the  Rosa  Russeliana. 

Roses  are  subject  to  the  green  fly,  which  disfigures  their  beauty, 
particularly  the  white  roses.  An  excellent  remedy  for  this  annoy- 
ance is  effected  by  moistening  the  plant,  and  then  dusting  it  over 
with  equal  portions  of  sulphur  and  tobacco  dust. 

The  following  list  of  roses  will  not  prove  beyond  a  lady's  man- 
agement, being  hardy,  and  requiring  only  pruning  every  January, 
and  giving  them  a  good  soil.  Prune  the  white  rose-trees  v«jy 
iparingly,  as  they  do  not  love  the  knife : — 


Roses,  early  cinnamon 
Double  yellow 
Single  yellow 
Red  monthly 
White  monthly 
Double  white 
Moss  Provence 
Common  Provens 
Double  vehet 


Single  Ditto 

Dutch  hundred-leaved 

Blush  ditto 

Blush  Belgic 

Red  ditto 

Marbled 

Large  royal 

York  and  Lancaster 

Red  damask 


ROSES  AND  JASMINES. 

Blush  ditto  Virgin,  or  thornless 

Austrian,  with  flowers  having  one        Common  red 

side  red  and  the  other  yellow  Burnet  leaved 

White  damask  Scotch,  the  dwarf 

Austrian  yellow  Striped  Scotch 

Double  musk  Apple-bearing 

Royal  virgin  Single  American 

Rosa  mundi,  i.  e.,  rose  of  the  world,        Rose  of  Meux 

or  striped  red  rose  Pennsylvanian 

Frankfort  Red  cluster 

Cluster  blush  Burgundy  rose 

Maiden  blush  Perpetual,  or  four-season 

HARDY    CLIMBING    ROSES. 

Rosa  sempervirens,  three  sorts 


Lady  Banks'  yellow  rose 


The  Ayrshire  rose 

Double  ditto  Rose  ruga 

Rose  hybrida  multiflora  Red  Boursault 

Rose  Clair  Crimson  ditto 

Rosa  Russeliana 
Reversa  elegans 

JASMINES. 

Jasmines  grow  in  very  irregular  forms.  Perhaps  their  luxuri- 
ant wild  appearance  constitutes  their  chief  grace.  The  jasmine 
is  a  beautiful  screen  in  summer,  wreathing  its  festoons  through 
trellis-work  ;  and  it  appears  to  me  that  Nature  presents  not,  in 
our  colder  climes,  a  more  fragrant  and  beautiful  bouquet  than  a 
mixture  of  roses  and  jasmines. 

The  common  jasmine  is  hardy,  and  loves  a  good  soil,  by  which 
term  I  mean  kitchen  garden  soil.  Trench  round  the  stem  occa- 
sionally to  lighten  the  earth,  and  it  will  grow  very  freely.  Put 
litter  round  the  jasmine  in  severe  frost ;  and  if  a  very  rigorous 
season  destroy  the  branches,  the  root  will  be  saved,  and  its  shoots 
in  the  spring  will  soon  replace  the  loss.  If  they  shoot  out  with 
displeasing  irregularity  and  confusion,  take  off  the  least  healthy 
looking  branches,  and  cut  away  those  which  grow  rumpled,  for 
they  only  consume  the  juices  of  the  plant  to  no  purpose.  Tho 
common  jasmine  is  propagated  by  layers  and  slips. 


68  LADIES7   FLOWER  GARDENER. 

The  Arabian  jasmine  is  very  fragrant,-  but  it  does  net  endure 
cold,  or  much  heat,  therefore  an  eastern  aspect  suits  it  best.  If 
the  Arabian  jasmine  is  grown  in  a  large  pot  or  box,  it  could 
be  placed  under  cover  during  frost  in  the  winter  months  ;  but  do 
not  place  it  in  a  green-house,  which  would  be  in  the  other  ex- 
treme again. 

The  yellow  jasmine  may  be  treated  like  the  common  jasmine, 
it  is  not  very  fragrant,  but  it  forms  an  elegant  variety. 

I  have  seen  very  fanciful  and  beautiful  devices  invented  to  dis- 
play the  beauty  of  the  jasmine.  Their  shoots  grow  so  rapidly 
and  luxuriantly,  that  if  the  plant  is  allowed  to  luxuriate,  it  will 
soon  cover  any  frame- work  with  its  drooping  beauty.  The  jas- 
mine loves  to  hang  downwards ;  and  I  have  admired  inventive 
little  arbors,  where  the  plant  has  been  trained  up  behind  them, 
and  the  branches  allowed  to  fall  over  their  front  in  the  richest 
profusion,  curtained  back  like  the  entrance  of  a  tent.  The  effect, 
during  their  time  of  flowering,  was  remarkably  elegant. 

When  you  prune  the  jasmine,  cut  the  branches  to  an  eye  or 
bud,  just  by  the  place  from  which  they  sprout,  and  that  in  such 
a  manner,  that  the  head  when  trimmed,  should  resemble  the  head 
of  a  willow.  This  method  makes  them  throw  out  abundance  of 
branches  and  fine  flowers. 

Give  fresh  soil  to  the  jasmine  every  two  years,  or  they  will 
gradually  become  weakened  in  their  blooms.  The  secret  of  hav- 
ing fine  flowers  is  in  keeping  up  the  soil  to  a  regular  degree  of 
strength,  as  the  human  frame  languishes  under  change  of  diet, 
and  becomes  weakened  for  want  of  food.  Thus  it  is  with  animate 
and  inanimate  nature. 


EVERGREEN   SHRUBS.  69 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ORNAMENTAL    SHRUBS    AND    EVERGREENS. 

SHALL  speak  now  of  the  ornamental  shrubs  which  de- 
corate a  flower  garden,  and  which  a  lady  may  superintend 
herself,  if  her  own  physical  powers  are  not  equal  to  the 
fatigue  of  planting.  A  laborer,  or  a  stout  active  girl,  may  act 
under  her  orders,  and  do  all  that  is  necessary  to  be  done,  in 
removing  or  planting  flowering  shrubs  and  evergreens. 

In  planting  flowering  shrubs,  be  very  particular  to  plant  them 
at  such  distances  that  each  plant  may  have  plenty  of  room  to 
grow,  and  strike  out  their  roots  and  branches  freely.  If  shrubs 
are  crowded  together,  they  become  stunted  in  growth,  and  lanky 
in  form. 

If  you  are  forming  a  clump,  or  even  a  plantation,  let  each 
shrub  be  planted  six  feet  apart  from  its  neighbor :  but  if  you 
wish  to  plant  roses,  syringas,  honeysuckles,  lilacs,  &c.,  in  your 
flower  borders,  they  should  be  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  distant 
from  each  other,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  flowers  growing 
below  them. 

Do  not  plant  tall  shrubs  promiscuously  among  low-growing 
ones.  Let  the  taller  shrubs  form  the  back-grounds,  that  each 
shrub  may  be  distinctly  seen.  The  shrubs  should  be  trained  up 
with  single  stems,  and  they  shou!d  be  pruned  every  year, 
taking  up  the  suckers,  and  removing  disorderly  branches. 

By  allowing  each  shrub  plenty  of  room,  it  will  form  a  hand- 
some head,  and  throw  out  vigorous  shoots.  You  will  also  havo 


70  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

space  to  dig  between  the  shrubs,  and  the  sun  and  air  can  benefit 
them. 

Some  of  the  more  beautiful  evergreens  look  extremely  well 
dotted  about  the  grounds  singly  or  in  clumps,  but  be  very  parti- 
cular in  planting  your  shrubs. 

For  instance,  when  you  wish  to  transplant  or  plant  a  shrub, 
dig  a  circular  hole  sufficiently  large  to  receive  the  roots  of  the 
plant,  which  must  be  laid  neatly  down,  while  some  person  holds 
the  shrub  in  its  proper  position,  straight  and  upright.  Cut  away 
any  dead  or  damaged  roots  ;  then  break  the  earth  well  with  your 
spade,  and  throw  it  into  the  hole,  shaking  the  plant  gently,  just 
to  let  the  earth  fall  close  in  among  the  roots.  When  it  is  well 
filled  up,  tread  the  earth  gently  round  the  shrub  to  fix  it,  but  do 
not  stamp  it,  as  I  have  seen  people  do. 

But  if  you  can  take  up  shrubs  with  a  bail  of  earth  round  their 
roots,  they  do  not  feel  the  operation,  and  their  leaves  do  not 
droop.  Water  each  shrub  after  planting :  give  each  of  them  a 
good  soaking,  and  let  each  plant  have  a  stake  to  support  it  dur- 
ing the  winter. 

October  is  the  autumn  month  for  transplanting  shrubs,  and 
February  and  March  are  the  spring  months.  I  always  prefer  the 
autumn  transplanting,  as  the  rains  and  showers  are  so  fructifying. 
March  is  the  last  month  for  transplanting  evergreens. 

Laurustinus,  Phillyreas,  and  Laurel,  are  excellent  shrubs  to 
plant  near  buildings,  or  to  hide  a  wall.  They  are  evergreen 
summer  and  winter,  very  hardy,  and  quick  growing. 

The  Pyracantha  is  an  elegant  shrub,  with  its  clusters  of  red 
berries ;  and  it  looks  gay  during  the  autumn  and  winter. 

The  Arbutus,  or  strawberry  tree,  is  loaded  with  its  strawber- 
ries in  August,  September  md  October.  This  is  a  beautiful 
shrub,  placed  singly  on  a  lawn,  kept  to  one  single  clean  stem, 
Aiid  a  fine  branching  head. 


EVEUGKKEN   SHRUBS.  71 

Portugal  laurels  are  beautiful :  their  deep  green  leaves,  and 
B(  ented  feathery  flowers,  make  them  an  important  shrub  n  all 
gardens. 

It  has  been  ascertained  by  the  late  severe  winter,  that  ever- 
greens are  extremely  hardy,  and  will  bear  any  severity  of  frost. 
All  those  evergreens  considered  most  tender,  such  as  Portugal 
laurels,  rhododendrons,  &c.,  were  observed  to  brave  the  frost  un- 
hurt, which  were  placed  in  high  unsheltered  places,  or  facing  the 
east  and  north.  It  was  observed,  also,  that  those  evergreens 
were  destroyed  whose  aspect  was  south  and  west,  and  which  lay 
in  warm  and  sheltered  situations.  The  cause  was  this.  The 
shrubs  did  not  suffer  which  were  not  subject  to  alternations  of 
heat  and  cold  ;  while  those  which  lay  in  warm  situations,  being 
thawed  by  the  sun's  rays  during  the  day,  could  not  endure  the 
sudden  chill  of  returning  frost  at  night. 

Plant  your  evergreens,  therefore,  fearlessly  in  exposed  situa- 
tions ;  and  care  only,  in  severe  winters,  for  those  which  are  likely 
to  be  thawed  and  frozen  again  twice  in  twenty-four  hours. 

Rhododendrons  are  very  beautiful  shrubs,  and  grow  into  trees 
if  the  soil  agrees  with  them.  They  love  a  bog  soil. 

The  Camelia  japonica  is  considered  a  green-house  plant,  but  it 
becomes  hardy,  like  the  laurel,  if  care  is  taken  to  shelter  it  for  a 
few  winters,  when  it  gradually  adapts  itself  to  the  climate.  This 
is  troublesome,  perhaps,  as  most  things  are,  to  indolent  people  ; 
but  the  trouble  is  well  repaid  by  the  beautiful  flowers  of  the 
japonicas,  its  dark  leaves,  and  delicate  scent. 

The  gum  Cistus  is  a  handsome  evergreen,  and  looks  well  any- 
where and  everywhere.  Some  straw  litter  spread  round  their 
roots  in  winter  is  a  great  protection. 

All  evergreens  of  a  hard-wooded  nature  are  propagated  rapidly 
by  layers  in  June  or  July.  This  is  the  method  : — Dig  round  the 
tree  or  shrub,  aud  bend  down  the  pliable  branches ;  lay  them 


72  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

into  the  earth,  and  secure  them  there  with  hooked  or  forked 
sticks.  Lay  down  all  the  young  shoots  on  each  branch,  and 
cover  them  with  earth  about  five  inches  deep,  leaving  the  tops 
out  about  two,  three,  or  four  inches  above  ground,  according  to 
their  different  lengths.  If  these  branches  are  laid  in  June  or 
July,  they  will  root  by  Michaelmas ;  but  if  they  are  laid  in 
October,  they  will  be  a  twelvemonth  rooting. 

The  layers  of  Alaternuses  and  Phillyreas  will  sometimes  be 
two  years  rooting,  if  done  so  late  as  October  ;  therefore  lay  down 
your  shoots,  if  possible,  in  June.  Let  the  shoots  which  are  lay- 
ered be  those  of  the  last  summer's  growth. 

You  may  propagate  shrubs  also  from  cuttings  in  February  and 
October.  Let  strong  shoots  be  chosen,  of  last  summer's  growth : 
choose  them  from  nine  to  fifteen  inches  long,  and,  if  you  can,  take 
about  two  inches  of  old  wood  with  the  shoots  at  their  base.  Trim 
off  the  lower  leaves,  place  the  cuttings  half  way  in  the  ground, 
and  plant  them  in  a  shady  border  to  root.  Do  this  in  February, 
in  preference  to  Oclober,  as  everything  roots  earlier  from  spring 
operations.  You  may  also  plant  cuttings  in  June,  but  keep  them 
moist  and  shady. 

October  is  a  good  month  for  taking  up  suckers  of  lilacs,  roses, 
&c.,  and  for  all  sorts  of  transplanting  in  its  varieties.  It  is  also 
the  month  to  transplant  the  layers  of  such  shrubs  as  were  laid  in 
the  previous  October. 

I  subjoin  a  list  of  hardy  deciduous  shrubs  and  evergreens,  not 
too  tall  to  admit  into  a  moderately  sized  flower  garden  : — 

DECIDUOUS    SHRUBS   OF   LESSER   GROWTH. 


Arbutus,  Strawberry  tree 
Common 
Double-flowering 
Red-flowering 
Eastern,  01  Andrachne 


Jttmond,  common 

White-flowering 

Early  dwarf,  single  flowei 

Double  dwarf 
Althcea  frutex,  striped 


EVERGKKEfl    SHRUBS. 


73 


Red 

White 

Blue 

Purple 

Pheasant's  eye 
.  indromcda,  striped 

Evergreen 
Azalea,  with  red  flowers 

White 
Btrberry,  common,  red  fruit 

Stoneless,  red  fruit 

White  fruit 
Bladder-nut,  three-leaved 

Five-leaved 
Broom,  the  Spanish 

Double-flowering 

Yellow  Portugal 

White  Portugal 

Lucca 
Bramble,  double-flowering 

American  upright 

White-fruited 

Dwarf 

Thornless 

CAi'onan/AMs,Fringe,  or  Snowdrop  tree 
Candleberry  Myrtle,  broad-leaved 

Long-leaved 

Fern-leaved 

Oak-leaved 
Cherry,  double-blossomed 

Cornelian 

Dwarf  Canada 

Currant,  with  gold  and  silver-1  Lotch- 
ed  leaves 

With  gooseberry  leaves 

Pennsylvanian 
Dogwood,  the  common 

Virginia 

Great-flowering 

Newfoundland 

Empetrum,  black-berried  heath 
Guelder  Rose,  common 

Double,  or  snowball 

Carolina 

Gold-blotched  leaf 

Currant-leaved 
Hydrangea,  white-flowering 
Honeysuckle,  early  red  Italian 

Early  white  Dutch 

Late  Dutch 

Late  red 


Long-blowing 

Large  scarlet  trumpet 

Small  trumpet 

Oak-leaved 

Early  white  Italian 

Early  red  Italian 

/py,  deciduous,  or  Virginian  creepei 
Jasmine,  the  common  white 

Common  yellow  Italian 

Gold-striped  leaved 

Silver-striped  leaved 
Lilac,  blue 

White 

Purple,  or  Scotch 

Persian,  with  cut  leaves 

Persian,  white-flowered 

Persian,  blue-flowereJ 
Lonicera,  upright  Honeysuckle 

Red-berried 

Blue-berried 

Virginian 

Tartarian 
Mezcreon,  white 

Early  red 

Late  red 

Purple 
i  Mespilus,  spring-flowering 

Lady  Hardwick's  shrub 
Peach,  double- flowering 
Privet,  common 

Silver-striped 

Yellow-blotched  leaves 
Ptelea,  or  American  Shrub  Trefoil 
Pomegranate,  single-flowering 

Double 
Robinia,  or  false  Acacia 

Common 

Yellow-flowered 

Scarlet-flowered,  or  rose  acacia^ 

Caragana 
Rhamnus,  or  Buckthorn 

Common 

Sea  buckthorn 

Yellow-berried    9 

Creeping  evergreen 
Raspberry,  double-flow^  ing 

Virginian  sweet-flowering 
Rose,  in  every  variety 
Spircea  frutex,  common  red 

Scarlet 

White 


LADIES7   FLOWEK   GARDENEK. 


Sumach,  scarlet 

Large  downy 

White 

Virginia 

Elm-leaved 

Myrtle-leaved 

Carolina 
Syringa,  common 

Dwarf  double-flowerin 
Scorpion  Senna 


Smilax,  broad-leavec 

Blotched-leaved 
Tulip  Tree 
Tamarisk,  the  Fremia 

German 
Viburnum,  or  Way/arer 

Common 

Stripe-leaved 

American  broad-leaved 

Maple- leaved 


EVERGREENS. 


Alaternus,  common 

Blotched-leaved 

Jagged-leaved,  plain 

Ditto,  striped 

Silver-striped 

Gold- striped 
Cistus,  or  Rock  Rose 

Gum  Cistus,  with  spotted  flowers 

With  plain  white  flowers 

Purple  sage-leaved 

Male  Portugal 

Bay-leaved  gum 

With  hairy  willow  leaves 

Black  poplar-leaved 

Waved-leaved 

Purple,  or    true    Gum   Cistus   of 

Crete,  with  other  varieties 
Jytisus,  Neapolitan 

Canary 

Siberian  and  Tartarian 
Laurustinus.  common 

Broad,  or  shining-leaved 

Rough-leaved 

Oval-leaved 
Bay,  broad-leaved 

Narrow-leaved 
Phillyrea,  the  true 

Broad-leaved 

Privet-leaved 

Prickly-leaved 

Olive-leaved    * 

Gold-edged 

Silver-edged 

Rosemary  edged 
Juniper,  common 

Swedish 

Sclavonian 


Canada 

Jasmine,  evergreen 
Pyracantha 
Ivy,  common 

Striped-leaved 

Virginian 

Irish,  or  quick-growing 
Honeysuckle,  evergreen 
Rose,  the  evergreen 
Rhododendron,  dwarf  Rose  Bay 
Kalmia,  olive-leaved 

Broad-leaved 

Thyme-leaved 
Coronilla,  narrow-leaved 

Broad-leaved 
Magnolia,  laurel-  lea ve»l 

Lesser  bay-leaved 
Jirbor  Vita,  common 

Chira 

American 
Cypress,  common  upright 

Male  spreading 
Bignonia,  the  evergreen 
Widow  Wail 
Locust  of  Montpelier 
Medicago,  Moon  Trefoi] 
Stonecrop  Shrub 
Ragwort,  the  sea 
Holly,  the  common 

Carolina  broad-leaved 

Yellow-berried 

Many  varieties 
Laurels,  common 

Portugal 

Alexandrian 

I  Oak,  Ilex,  or  evergreen 
•      Kermes,  or  scarlet-!>ra.ii;iv 


EVERGREEN  SHRUBS. 


T5 


Gramuntian,  holly-leaved 

Carolina  live 

Germander,  shrubby,  of  Crete 
Euonymus,  evergreen  Virginia 
Virginia  G-roundscl  Tree 


Wormwood,  la  vender- leaved 
Spurge,  or  wood  laurel 
Knecholm,  or  Butcher's  Broom 
Horse-tail,  shrubby 


In  pruning  shrubs,  be  careful  to  cut  out  the  long  rambling 
shoots  of  the  last  summer's  growth,  which  disfigures  their  appear- 
ance. Cut  away,  also,  branches  of  shrubs  which  interlace  each 
other,  that  every  shrub  may  stand  clear  and  well-defined.  Take 
away  their  suckers,  and  let  each  shrub  be  kept  to  a  single  stem, 
as  I  have  befo«?  observed. 


76 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OS    HOUSE    AND    WINDOW    GARDENING. 

(BY    MR.   CHARLES    MACKINTOSH.) 

:1K  culture  of  flowering  and  sweet-scented  plants,  as  orna- 
ments in  human  dwellings,  has  been  practiced  from  sucn 
remote  antiquity  that  no  one  can  name  the  date  of  its 
origin.  House  plants  are  also  a  kind  of  ornaments  which  all  the 
labors  of  the  most  refined  art  can  never  exceed  or  even  reach  ; 
and  hence  in  the  most  refined  and  luxurious  states  of  society, 
flowers  maintain  a  high  place  among  the  leading  ornaments  ;  and 
the  assembly-rooms  of  beauty  and  fashion,  and  the  banqueting- 
halls  of  the  noble  and  the  great,  would  look  tame  and  barren 
without  those  most  beautiful  and  most  appropriate  decorums. 

Farther,  it  is  one  of  the  great  merits  of  these  lovely  produc- 
tions of  nature,  that  thev  are  for  the  humble  as  well  as  for  the 
high.  The  humblest  window  in  the  most  obscure  and  crowded 
court  of  a  city  may  have  its  flower- pot ;  and  they  who  are  cut 
off  by  occupation  or  other  circumstances  from  the  free  range  of 
growing  nature,  may  still  command  a  little  vegetable  kingdom  of 
their  own  in  a  few  well-selected  and  carefully-attended  flowers. 

!A  species  of  ornament,  which  is  in  its  own  nature  so  pleasing 
and  so  innocent,  which  requires  far  less  labor  and  expense  than 
many  other  ornaments  of  very  inferior  value,  and  which  adapts  itself 
to  every  imaginable  class  of  society,  is  surely  worthy  of  the  study, 
the  encouragement,  and  the  care  of  all  who  seek  happiness  to 
themselves,  or  wish  to  promote  the  happiness  of  others. 


HOUSE   PLANTS.  77 

That  there  is  no  want  of  love  for  such  plants  is  evident  from 
the  places  in  which  they  appear ;  but  the  kind  and  state  of  the 
plants  very  generally  show  that  there  is  a  great  want  of  know- 
ledge, both  in  their  selection  and  their  management.  In  order 
to  contribute  a  little  to  the  supplying  of  this  defect,  we  propose 
to  offer  a  very  brief  compendium  of  what  the  French  and  Ger- 
mans call  "  Window  Gardening  ;"  and  in  order  to  render  what 
we  state  as  clear  as  possible,  we  shall  divide  it  into  several  heads, 
or  points. 

PLANTS  PROPER  FOR  WINDOW  CULTURE. 

As  the  situation  of  these  plants  is  different  from  what  they 
occupy  in  their  natural  state,  it  becomes  necessary  to  select  such 
as  are  capable  of  accommodating  themselves  to  circumstances ; 
and  as  the  unfavorable  circumstances  of  house  plants  are  chiefly 
want  of  free  and  pure  air,  and  of  light,  and  in  those  species  which 
are  accustomed  to  long  seasons  of  repose  in  the  winter,  to  uniform 
temperature,  these  circumstances  must  be  kept  in  mind  in  the 
selection.  Rooms,  especially  in  crowded  cities,  are  the  most 
unnatural,  and,  on  that  account,  the  very  worst  situations  in 
which  plants  can  be  placed  ;  and  therefore,  if  healthy  plants  and 
an  abundance  of  bloom  are  sought  for,  variety  must  be  sacrificed. 

Plants  which  will  continue  healthy  for  a  long  time  in  the  con- 
fined air  of  rooms,  are  generally  those  which  have  a  peculiar 
surface,  or  texture  in  the  foliage :  such  are  many  of  the  Aloes, 
Cactuses,  Mesembryanthemums,  among  what  are  called  succulent 
plants  ;  and,  in  a  higher  temperature,  some  of  the  curious  Epi~ 
phytce,  or  the  natural  order  Orchidece.  We  recollect  once  seeing 
a  very  interesting  collection  of  more  than  two  hundred  species, 
growing  in  a  high  state  of  perfection,,  in  the  house  of  an  amateur 
of  succulent  plants,  living  in  the  Grand  Sablon  at  Brussels.  The 


78  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

room  containing  them  was  fitted  up  much  in  the  same  way  as  an 
ordinary  library,  with  abundance  of  light  shelves  round  the  walls, 
and  a  large  table  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  on  which  were  placed 
the  pots  containing  the  plants.  At  night,  the  room  was  lighted 
up  by  an  elegant  glass  lamp,  and  it  was  heated  by  one  of  those 
ornamental  stoves  which  are  so  common  on  the  Continent  Alto- 
gether, it  had  a  very  handsome  appearance. 

The  Chinese  are  very  attentive  to  the  house  culture  of  manj 
of  the  orchideous  epiphytae,  and  thereby  greatly  increase  the 
beauty  and  the  fragrance  of  their  apartments ;  they  have  them 
in  ornamental  vases  and  baskets,  and  even  suspended  in  the  air, 
where  they  last  for  many  years  and  flower  beautifully.  Some  of 
them  continue  in  flower  for  many  months,  and  diffuse  the  most 
delightful  fragrance  during  the  night.* 

The  reason  why  the  succulent  and  epiphytous  plants  answer 
so  well  for  house  culture  is,  that  their  winter  is  one  of  drought 
and  not  of  cold,  and  that  the  latter  especially  have  little,  and 
some  of  them  no  mould  at  the  roots  in  their  natural  situations. 
But  there  has  been  hitherto  a  prejudice  against,  or  at  all  events 
an  ignorance  of,  and  want  of  attention  to,  the  culture  of  succu- 
lent plants  in  this  country.  This  is  unwise ;  for  many  of  them 
are  exceedingly  beautiful,  highly  fragrant,  and  better  adapted  for 
house  culture  than  any  plants  whatever.  They  are  singularly 
curious  and  varied  in  their  structures ;  and,  generally  speaking, 
they  require  less  light,  air,  and  moisture,  than  other  plants. 

Next  to  them,  in  point  of  eligibility  for  house  culture,  may  be 
reckoned  such  plants  as  have  coriaceous  leaves,  that  is,  have  their 
leaves  firm,  and  with  a  smooth  and  compact  epidermis, — such  as 
oranges,  pittosporums,  myrtles,  and  others  of  similar  texture ; 
these  are  found  to  have  organs  much  better  adapted  to  confined 

*  Rcnanthera  coccinea  is  one  of  the  finest  of  these,  and  was  first  riowereJ 
fi  this  :ountry  by  the  author  of  this  paper. 


HOUSE   PLANTS.  79 

air  than  plants  which  have  the  leaves  small  or  of  delicate  texture. 
Some  tribes,  as  the  heaths,  the  Epacridece,  and  the  whole  race  of 
pinnate  leaved  and  papilionaceous  flowered  plants,  are  wholly 
unfit  for  house  culture. 

TREATMENT  OF  HOUSE  PLANTS. 

Water,  heat,  air,  and  light,  are  the  four  essential  stimulants  to 
plants  ;  water,  heat,  and  air,  to  promote  growth  ;  and  light  to 
render  that  growth  perfect. 

Water,  heat,  and  air,  man  can  command  at  his  pleasure  by 
artificial  means  ;  but  over  light,  as  an  element  of  the  perfect 
growth  of  plants,  we  have  less  control.  To  be  beneficial  to  plants, 
light  must  come  directly  from  the  sun  ;  and  therefore  the  plants 
should  be  so  placed,  as  that  it  may  act  upon  them  with  as  little 
as  possible  of  that  refraction  and  decomposition  which  it  suffers 
when  it  passes  obliquely  through  glass,  or  any  other  medium 
except  the  air.  Plants  grown  in  the  open  air,  and  with  such  free 
exposure  to  the  light  as  their  habits  require,  not  only  develop  all 
their  parts  in  their  proper  form,  but  their  leaves,  flowers,  and 
fruits,  have  their  natural  colors,  odors,  and  flavors.  Plants  ex- 
cluded from  light  have  not  their  natural  color,  odor,  nor  flavor, 
they  make  little  or  no  charcoal  in  the  woody  part,  the  leaves  are 
not  green,  and  if  they  do  flower  and  fruit,  which  is  rarely  the 
case,  the  flowers  are  pale  and  scentless,  and  the  fruit  is  insipid. 
This  has  been  proved  by  many  experiments,  of  which  the  blanch- 
ing of  celery  and  endive  by  earthing  up,  and  that  of  a  cabbage 
by  the  natural  process  of  hearting,  are  familiar  instances.  A 
geranium  placed  in  a  dark  room  becomes  first  pale,  then  spotted, 
and  ultimately  white ;  and  if  brought  to  the  light  it  again  ac- 
quires its  color 

If  plants  kept  in  the  dark  are  exposed  to  the  action  of  hydrogen 
gas,  they  retain  their  green  color,  though  how  this  gas  acts  ha* 


80  LADIES'  FLOWER  GAKDENEB. 

not  been  ascertained.  Some  flowers,  too,  such  as  the  crocus  and 
tulip,  are  colored  though  grown  in  the  dark. 

Light  seems  to  be  fully  as  essential  to  plants  as  air  or  heat,  and 
while  it  acte  Beneficially  on  the  upper  surfaces  of  the  leaves,  it 
appears  to  bk  injurious  to  the  under  surfaces,  at  least  of  some 
plants ;  for  in  whatever  way  a  plant  is  placed,  it  contrives  to  turn 
the  upper  surfaces  of  its  leaves  to  the  light.  Professor  Lindley 
is,  we  believe,  making  some  experiments  on  this  subject. 

Plants  in  rooms  turn  not  only  their  leaves,,  but  their  branches 
to  the  window  at  which  the  light  enters,  and  a  plant  may,  by 
turning  it  at  intervals,  be  made  to  bend  successively  to  all  sides ; 
but  such  bendings  weaken  the  plant,  and  thus  it  is  an  excessive 
or  unnatural  action.  This  turning  of  the  plant  to  the  light  is 
always  of  course  in  proportion  to  the  brightness  of  that  ligjt  as 
compared  with  the  other  sides  of  the  plant.  Flowers,  too,  open 
their  petals  to  the  light,  and  close  them  in  the  dark,  or  in  oome 
cases,  as  in  that  of  the  crocus,  when  a  cloud  passes  over  the  sun. 
The  same  flower,  and  also  some  others,  will  open  their  petals  to 
the  light  of  a  lamp  or  candle,  and  close  them  again  when  that  is 
withdrawn. 

It  follows  as  a  necessary  consequence,  that  in  rooms,  plants 
should  be  placed  as  near  the  window  as  possible,  that  the  win- 
dows should  have  a  south  exposure,  and  that  they  should  be  as 
seldom  as  possible  shaded  with  blinds  or  otherwise.  If  piaced 
at  a  distance  from  the  windows,  plants  should  be  frequently 
changed,  and  to  place  them  permanently  on  tables  or  man  el- 
shelves  is  bad  management. 

Air  is  as  necessary  to  the  health  of  plants  as  light ;  but  air  :an 
find  its  way  where  light  cannot,  and  therefore  it  requires  less  c?.re 
from  the  cultivator.  If  the  air  is  too  close,  opening  the  door  and 
windows  produces  a  change,  the  warm  air  escaping  at  top,  and 
cc-id  air  coming  in  below  ;  but  on  opening  the  windows  of  a  warm 


HOUSE  PLANTS.  81 

room  in  cold  weasher,  care  must  be  taken  not  to  chill  the  plants 
by  leaving  them  in  the  cold  current. 

The  heat  of  ordinary  dwelling-houses  is  quite  enough  for  such 
plants  as  we  would  recommend  for  general  culture  in  rooms,  only, 
in  very  cold  weather,  the  plants  should  be  removed  a  little  further 
from  the  wipdows.  The  blinds  and  shutters  are  usually  a  suffi- 
cient protection  during  the  night ;  and  we  may  remark  that  plants 
in  rooms  are  more  frequently  killed  by  too  much  heat  than  by  too 
much  cold. 

Spring  and  autumn  are  the  times  of  the  year  at  which  window 
plants  require  the  greatest  attention.  It  is  usual  to  have  the 
plants  outside  the  windows  even  during  the  night  in  the  summer 
season,  and  kept  in  the  house  both  night  and  day  in  the  winter 
season.  In  the  intermediate  seasons  of  spring  and  autumn  the 
plants  are  frequently  placed  in  their  summer  situation  during  the 
day,  and  it  is  desirable  that  then  they  should  be  placed  in  their 
winter  situation  during  the  night.  Our  climate  is  so  variable  at 
those  seasons,  that  we  not  only  have  summer  during  the  day,  and 
winter  during  the  night,  but  whole  days  of  summer  and  winter 
alternating  with  each  other.  Sometimes  we  have  warmer  days  in 
April  than  in  May  or  June,  and  occasionally  we  have  more  severe 
frosts  in  the  beginning  of  September,  than  any  which  occur  again 
till  November  is  nearly  over.  Now  it  is  not  the  absolute  heat  or 
cold,  but  the  rapidity  of  the  transition  from  one  to  the  other 
which  is  injurious  to  plants,  and  therefore  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  all  such  as  would  have  their  house  plants  in  the  perfection  ot 
beauty,  to  attend  to  those  circumstances.  This  is  more  especially 
necessary  in  towns,  where  the  people  are  much  less  interested  in 
the  changes  of  the  weather,  and  therefore  much  less  observant  of 
them  than  they  are  in  the  country ;  and  we  have  no  doubt  that 
more  plants  are  destroyed  from  want  of  attention  to  those  varia- 
ble periods  of  the  year  than  from  any  other  cause.  It  is  a  safe 


82  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER, 

rule  to  trust  no  plant  less  hardy  than  a  common  Geranium  out- 
side the  window  all  night,  earlier  than  about  the  twentieth  of 
June,  or  later  than  the  first  of  September.  No  doubt  there  arc 
many  nights  before  the  first  of  these  times,  and  after  the  latter, 
during  which  the  plaixts  might  remain  in  the  open  air  without 
injury.  There  is,  however,  no  knowing  what  a  night  may  bring 
forth  at  those  inconstant  seasons,  and  therefore  the  safe  plan  is 
not  to  leave  the  plants  to  chance. 

When,  as  often  happens,  plants  get  slightly  injured  by  rost, 
cold  water  should  be  sprinkled  on  them  before  the  sun  reaches 
them,  and  this  sprinkling  ought  to  be  continued  as  long  as  any 
appearance  of  frost  remains  on  the  foliage. 

Water  is  often  very  injudiciously  applied  to  plants  in  rooms, 
and  the  evil  arises  from  falling  into  the  opposite  extremes  of  too 
much  and  too  little.  Fear  of  spoiling  the  carpet,  forgetfulness, 
and  sometimes  a  dread  of  injuring  the  plant,  are  the  chief  causes 
of  an  under  supply  of  water.  On  the  other  hand,  many  have  a 
notion  that  such  plants  should  be  watered  every  day,  or  at  stated 
periods,  without  inquiring  whether  it  be  necessary  or  not.  Saucers 
or  pans  are  often  placed  under  flower-pots  to  prevent  the  water, 
which  escapes,  from  soiling  the  apartment,  but  in  these  cases  the 
saucers  should  be  partly  filled  with  gravel,  to  prevent  the  roots 
from  being  soaked  with  water,  or  the  water  which  lodges  in  the 
saucer  should  be  removed. 

Fanciful  and  elegant  baskets  of  wire  or  wicker-work,  and  plant- 
tables  are,  perhaps,  preferable  to  common  stages.  The  baskets 
should  have  a  pan,  of  zinc,  copper,  or  other  metal,  and  over  this 
a  bottom  pierced  with  holes,  or  a  grating  of  wire,  on  which  the 
pots  are  to  be  placed.  The  pan  is  generally  about  an  inch  deep, 
and  has  a  plug  or  other  contrivance  by  which  the  surplus  water 
may  be  drawn.  Plant-tables  can  be  constructed  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  admit  of  an  endless  variety  of  forms,  according  to  th<> 


HOUSE   PLANTS.  83 

taste  of  the  owner.  In  either  of  these  the  pots  may  be  wholly 
concealed  by  green  moss,  or  cut  paper,  so  that  nothing  but  the 
plants  themselves  may  appear. 

Water  is  as  essential  to  the  whole  plant  as  it  is  to  the  roots,  be- 
cause they  are  liable  to  collect  dirt,  and  thereby  to  be  injured; 
they  should,  therefore,  be  frequently  washed  over  with  a  syringe 
having  a  rose  to  it,  and  in  order  to  perform  this  operation  pro- 
perly, the  plants  must  generally  be  removed  to  some  other  apart- 
ment where  they  should  remain  till  they  are  dry.  In  winter  this 
operation  must  be  performed  in  mild  weather  only ;  it  should  be 
done  in  an  apartment  not  colder  than  that  in  which  the  plants 
usually  stand,  and  the  water  should  be  about  milk  warm.  When 
the  plants  are  in  baskets  or  on  tables,  they  can  be  removed  and 
washed  without  deranging  their  order.  Plants  which  have  large 
and  leathery  leaves,  such  as  oranges,  pittosporums,  camellias,  and 
myrtles,  may  be  washed  with  a  sponge,  or  if  very  foul  they  may 
be  washed  with  soap,  and  the  soap  carefully  removed  by  pure 
water.  Loose  dust  may  be  removed  by  a  pair  of  bellows.  At- 
tention to  cleanliness  greatly  increases  the  vigor  of  the  plant. 

House  plants  are  greatly  benefited  by  being  placed  out  of 
doors  in  the  summer  months,  especially  during  gentle  showers . 
and  such  as  have  no  other  convenience  may  advantageously  place 
them  outside  the  windows.  They  may  also  be  syringed  and 
washed  in  this  position,  and  if  the  owner  is  not  in  possession  of 
one,  a  common  watering-pot,  held  high,  so  that  the  water  may 
fall  on  the  plant  with  considerable  force,  is  a  tolerable  substitute. 

Plants  respire  by  their  leaves,  as  animals  do  by  their  breathing 
apparatus,  and  it  is  on  this  account  that  keeping  the  leaves  clean 
is  so  very  essential  to  the  health  of  plants.  Indeed,  the  dust 
which  collects  on  them,  and  interrupts  their  respiration,  is  one  of 
the  greatest  evils  which  can  befall  plants,  especially  in  rooms  and 
on  balconies  in  towns.  The  respiring  pores  are  generally  large 


84  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

in  proportion  as  the  leaves  are  so  ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  reasons 
why  delicate-leaved  plants  are  not  so  well  adapted  for  house  cul- 
ture as  those  which  have  the  leaves  larger  and  firmer. 

Light  has  also  a  considerable  effect  in  promoting  the  healthy 
action  of  leaves,  and  many  plants  fold  up  their  leaves  in  the  dark, 
or  even  when  the  sky  is  lowering.  This,  though  it  has  no  resem- 
blance to  sleep  in  animals,  has  been  called  the  sleep  of  plants, 
and  the  curious  reader  may  find  an  interesting  notice  of  it  in  the 
"  Amoenitates  Academicse  "  of  Linnaeus. 

THE    SUPPLY   OF    HOUSE    PLANTS. 

There  are  many  ways  of  doing  this ;  but  to  those  who  have 
the  opportunity,  and  choose  to  be  at  the  expense,  there  is,  per- 
haps, none  better  than  that  of  contracting  for  the  year  with  some 
skilfull  and  respectable  nurseryman ;  in  this  case  the  plants  will 
be  attended  by  the  contractor,  and  kept  in  the  best  condition. 
Much  pleasure  is,  however,  sacrificed  by  those  who  adopt  this 
mode,  inasmuch  as  the  chief  enjoyment  of  plants  arises  from  the 
feeling  that  they  are  the  nurslings  of  our  own  care ;  and  it  is 
astonishing  how  strongly  the  judicious  treatment  of  plants  leads 
to  judicious  management  in  all  other  matters. 

Plants,  except  such  as  are  novelties  and  sought  only  by  the 
curious,  may  always  be  had  at  moderate  prices  from  respectable 
growers.  Covent  Garden  furnishes  an  abundant  supply  for  Lon- 
don, and  those  who  are  not  so  particular  may  have  them  of  the 
hawkers.  In  dealing  with  these  people,  some  care  is  however 
necessary ;  very  many  of  the  plants  which  they  offer  for  sale  arc 
thrown  away  or  stolen,  and  in  both  cases  they  are  taken  up  with- 
out any  regard  to  the  preservation  of  the  roots,  and  thus  there  is 
a  considerable  chance  against  their  success.  Those  injured  plants 
are  made  to  look  healthy  for  a  little  time  by  means  of  an  ovei 


HOUSE   PLANTS.  85 

gupply  of  watc  r,  but  they  soon  languish  in  the  possession  of  the 
purchasers. 

Another  very  hazardous  mode  of  purchasing  plants  is  at  those 
sales  which  are  very  frequently  got  up  in  the  spring  and  autumn. 
At  these,  purchasers  have  no  security  that  the  plant  is  healthy, 
.-  that  it  is  what  it  professes  to  be,  and  thus  they  often  pay  a 
higher  price  for  a  worthless  article  in  a  diseased  state,  than  a  re- 
gular nurseryman  would  charge  them  for  a  good  plant  in  the 
finest  condition.  Such  a  nurseryman  has  always  character  at 
stake,  but  the  other  parties,  generally  speaking,  have  none. 

MANAGEMENT    OF    BULBS    IN    GLASSES. 

This  is  a  favorite  mode  of  house  culture,  and  the  bulbs  best 
adapted  for  it  are  hyacinths,  polyanthus-narcissus,  Van  Thol,  and 
other  tulips,  crocus,  Persian  iris,  narcissus,  colchicum,  Guernsey 
lily,  jonquil,  and  others. 

Spring-flowering  bulbs  are  usually  purchased  in  September, 
and  the  autumnal  ones  in  July  and  August,  and  the  largest  and 
best-formed  bulbs  should  be  chosen  ;  an  abundant  supply  may 
be  obtained  at  little  cost  at  the  seed-shops  and  nurseries.  To  be 
blown  in  winter  or  spring,  the  bulbs  are  placed  in  water  in  Octo- 
ber, and  so  on  in  succession  till  February  or  March ;  and  for 
autumn  and  early  winter,  they  are  placed  in  the  water  in  August 
and  September.  Dark-colored  glasses  are  the  best,  as  they  pre- 
vent the  light  from  decomposing  the  roots  of  the  plants.  Rain 
water  is  preferable  to  any  other,  and  it  should  be  changed  fre- 
quently, not  less  than  once  every  third  or  fourth  day,  to  prevent 
its  getting  putrid  ;  and  in  performing  this  operation  care  must  be 
taken  both  in  withdrawing  and  in  replacing  the  roots.  This  is 
necessary  only  till  the  flowers  have  expanded  ;  for  after  this  the 
plants  may  be  left  undisturbed  until  the  flowers  have  decayed. 


J6  LADIES    FLOWEK  GARDENER. 

The  water  which  is  supplied  must  not  be  colder  than  that  which 
is  withdrawn,  or  than  the  general  temperature  of  the  apartment. 
Much  heat  is  not  necessary  for  such  plants,  because  they  flower 
better  the  more  slowly  their  vegetation  proceeds.  Chimney- 
pieces  and  other  warm  situations  are  not  nearly  so  well  adapted 
for  those  bulbs  as  stages  near  the  window,  or  the  window-sill 
itself. 

A  better  mode  of  growing  those  bulbs  than  the  common  mode 
in  glasses,  would  be  in  a  table  with  a  deep  pan,  and  a  wire  grat- 
ing on  the  top.  This  might  be  placed  about  nine  inches  from  the 
bottom  of  the  pan,  and  the  roots  arranged  on  it,  the  taller  ones 
in  the  center,  and  those  of  more  lowly  growth  towards  the  sides. 
The  water  in  the  pan  might  be  drawn  off  by  a  plug,  and  fresh 
water  supplied,  without  in  the  least  disturbing  the  plants. 

Bulbs  may  also  be  grown  in  fine  white  sand,  kept  constantly 
moistened,  and  in  this  way  very  beautiful  blooms  may  be  obtained, 

NOSEGAYS    AND    CUT    FLOWERS. 

Though  these  are  very  acceptable  to  most  persons,  there  arc 
few  who  rightly  understand  the  art  of  keeping  them  long  in  a 
fresh  state,  or  of  reviving  them  when  they  have  faded.  It  is 
true,  that  when  a  flower  or  branch  is  cut  off  from  its  parent  plant, 
its  support  is  thereby  destroyed ;  but  still  some  flowers  may  be 
kept  in  great  beauty  for  a  much  longer  period  than  others,  and 
many  for  a  far  longer  time  than  is  generally  done,  or  even  sup- 
posed possible. 

For  this  purpose,  flowers  should  be  gathered  early  in  the 
morning,  but  not  till  the  dew  be  nearly  dried  off  tftem.  They 
should  be  placed  in  a  flat  basket,  or  on  a  tray,  so  as  not  to  press 
upon  and  crush  each  other  ;  and  they  should  be  neatly  cut,  and 
not  mangled  or  bruised.  When  thus  gathered,  they  should  be 


HOUSE  PLANTS.  87 

covered  with  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  immediately  conveyed  to  the 
apartment  where  they  are  to  be  used,  if  that  apartment  be  near 
at  hand.  But  if  they  are  to  be  sent  to  any  distance,  they  should 
be  placed  in  tin  cases,  such  as  botanists  use  when  collecting  spe- 
cimens. We  have  sent  flowers,  in  such  cases,  for  several  hundred 
miles,  and  found  most  of  them  in  good  condition  at  the  end  of  a 
journey  of  three  or  four  days\eontinuance.  In  this  way  the 
Dutch  florists  send  specimens  of  their  finest  flowers  not  only  to 
England,  but  to  more  distant  parts  of  continental  Europe.  Our 
own  florists  send  to  the  metropolis,  for  competition  at  exhibitions, 
flowers  from  Cornwall,  from  the  north  of  England  and  from  Scot- 
land, and  they  arrive  without  the  least  decay.  They  are  placed 
in  wooden  or  tin  boxes,  having  an  internal  arrangement  of  small 
phials,  fixed  under  a  covering  of  tin  or  wood,  perforated  with 
holes,  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  stalks  of  the  flowers,  the 
ends  of  which  are  placed  in  the  water  of  the  phials,  and  in  this 
way  they  are  conveyed  with  perfect  safety. 

Flowers  should  not  be  cut  during  sunshine,  or  kept  exposed  to 
the  solar  influence  ;  neither  should  they  be  collected  in  large 
bundles  and  tied  tightly  together,  as  this  invariably  hastens  their 
decay.  When  in  the  room  where  they  are  to  remain,  the  ends 
of  the  stalks  should  be  cut  clean  across  with  a  very  sharp  knife 
(never  with  scissors),  by  which  means  the  tubes  through  which 
they  draw  the  water  are  left  open,  so  that  the  water  ascends 
freely,  which  it  will  not  do  if  the  tubes  of  the  stems  are  bruised 
or  lacerated.  An  endless  variety  of  ornamental  vessels  are  used 
for  the  reception  of  such  flowers,  and  they  are  all  equally  well 
adapted  for  the  purpose,  so  that  the  stalks  are  inserted  in  pure 
water.  This  water  ought  to  be  changed  every  day,  or  once  in 
two  days  at  the  furthest,  and  a  thin  slice  should  be  cleanly  cut 
off  from  the  end  of  each  stalk  every  time  the  water  is  removed, 
tvhich  will  occasion  fresh  action  and  re  -ive  the  flowers.  Water, 


88  LADIEb'  FLOWER  GARDEHER. 

about  milk  warm,  or  containing  a  small  quantity  of  camphor,  will 
sometimes  revive  decayed  flowers.  The  best  method  of  applying 
this,  is  to  have  the  camphor  dissolved  in  spirits  of  wine,  for  which 
the  common  camphorated  spirits  of  the  druggists'  shops  will  be 
quite  sufficient ;  and  to  add  a  drop  or  two  of  this  for  every  half 
ounce  of  water.  A  glass-shade  is  also  useful  in  preserving  flowers ; 
and  cut  flowers  ought  always  to  be  shaded  during  the  night,  and 
indeed  at  all  times  when  they  are  not  purposely  exhibited.  The 
following  are  some  of  the  genera  of  plants  the  flowers  of  which 
remain  longest  after  being  cut : — Gnaphalium,  Astelma,  Heli* 
chrysum,  Phcenocoma,  Aphelexis,  and  others,  which  the  French 
have  designated  "  immortal  flowers,"  from  remaining  unchanged 
by  decay,  hold  the  first  rank.  Next  to  these  come  the  whole 
natural  order,  Proteacece,  many  of  Graminece,  several  of  Cruciferce, 
several  in  Rhamneacce,  several  in  Cassuvice — the  genus  Acacia  in 
Leguminosce^  all  CalycanthacecK,  most  of  Myrtacece,  most  of  Dip- 
sacece,  several  of  Composite,  most  of  JEricece — the  genera  Laven- 
dula,  Sideritis  and  Phlomis,  in  Ldbiatce,  all  Orobanchece,  all 
Plumbaginece,  all  Amaranthacece,  many  of  Orchidece,  Strelitzia^ 
and  Heliconia  in  Musacece. 

INSECTS    AND    DISEASES    OF    HOUSE    PLANTS. 

Plants  in  rooms,  especially  geraniums  and  roses,  are  very  liable 
to  be  attacked  by  aphides.  These  may  be  easily  removed  by 
tobacco  smoke  or  tobacco  water ;  and  where  the  smell  is  not 
offensive,  smoke  blown  from  a  common  tobacco  pipe  is  as  effec- 
tual as  any  other  method.  Camphorated  water  may  be  used  by 
those  who  dislike  the  smell  of  tobacco.  Mildew,  occasionally, 
though  rarely,  attacks  house  plants.  It  appears  like  a  white 
powder,  and  is  supposed  to  consist  of  minute  fungi ;  but  these 
fungi  are  not  the  original  disease,  but  its  consequences,  and 


HOUSE   PLANTS.  89 

tppeurance  shows  that  the  plant  has  been  in  impure  air  or  other- 
wise improperly  treated.  Sulphur  or  camphor  will  effectually 
remove  this  mildew  ;  and  a  scaly  insect  of  the  coccus  tribe,  which 
appears  occasionally  on  oranges,  camellias,  and  similai  plants, 
may  be  removed  by  a  sponge  and  water. 

Many  persons  have  a  dislike  to  plants  in  houses  as  being  un- 
healthy ;  and  as  this  dislike  is  in  a  great  measure  groundless,  we 
may  notice  it.  Dr.  Priestley  was  the  first  to  show  that  the  leaves 
of  plants  absorb  carbonic  acid  gas  by  their  upper  surfaces,  and 
give  out  oxygen  by  their  under  ones,  thereby  tending  to  purify 
the  air  in  as  far  as  animal  life  is  concerned  ;  because  carbonic  acid 
gas  is  pernicious  to  animals,  and  oxygen  is  what  that  life  acquires. 
It  is  in  the  light,  however,  that  these  operations  are  carried  on  ; 
for  in  the  dark,  plants  give  out  carbon ;  and  this  may  be  one 
reason  why  plants  grown  in  the  dark  have  little  or  no  charcoal  in 
their  substance.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  any  of  the 
scentless  products  given  out  by  plants  are  injurious  to  human 
beings ;  because  those  who  live  among  accumulated  plants  are 
not  less  healthy  than  others  ;  though  many  persons  feel  dislike 
and  even  pain  from  the  odors  of  particular  plants,  in  a  way  not 
very  easily  accounted  for. 

On  the  Continent  in  general,  and  in  France  and  Germany  in 
particular,  flowers  of  all  sorts,  but  particularly  the  most  fragrant, 
are  admitted  into  the  saloons,  chambers,  and  even  bed  rooms  of 
,  people  of  all  classes  ;  and  they,  rather  than  complain  of  any  ill 
affects  arising  from  their  presence,  complain  more  of  the  difficulty 
of  procuring  them  in  sufficient  abundance.  The  flowers  most  in 
demand  for  the  chambers  of  the  French  and  Germans  are,  oranges, 
jasmine,  carnations,  honey-suckle,  mignonette,  olive,  rocket,  rose, 
violet,  wall-flower,  rosemary,  stock,  lavender,  savory,  oleander, 
hyacinth,  lilac,  syringa,  heliotrope,  narcissus,  <fec.,  all  sweet-smell- 


90  LADIES*  FLOWER    >ARI>ENER. 

ing  flowers ;   and  these  they  indulge  in  to  a  very  considerable 
extent. 

We  may  safely  conclude,  then,  that  plants  admitted  into  rooms 
to  the  extent  that  they  are  in  general,  can  produce  no  effect  in- 
jurious to  the  health  of  persons  in  general,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
will  afford  amusement  to  the  mind  and  exercise  to  the  body,  both 
of  which  are  so  necessary  towards  the  enjoyment  of  good  health. 
The  mind  will  be  agreeably  exercised  in  contemplating  the  beaut 
of  the  flowers,  but  more  so  still  if  the  study  of  their  respectiv. 
parts,  natures  and  structures,  in  a  botanical  or  physiological  point 
of  view,  be  at  the  same  time  attended  to.  An  agreeable  and 
rational  exercise  will  be  provided  for  the  body,  if  the  proprietor, 
particularly  if  of  the  softer  sex,  take  the  entire  management  of  ho* 
little  Window  Garden  into  her  own  hands. 


DOMESTIC   GREENHOUSES.  91 


CHAPTER  IX. 


entering  on  a  description  of  this  apparatus,  the 
circumstances  under  which  it  was  discovered  may  be 
briefly  adverted  to.  Mr.  Ward,  the  gentleman  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  the  discovery,  is  a  surgeon,  residing  in  Well- 
close  Square,  London.  From  his  earliest  youth  Mr.  Ward  has 
been  attached  to  botanical  pursuits  ;  but  living  in  a  densely  popu- 
lated neighborhood,  surrounded  with  manufactories,  and  enve- 
loped in  the  smoke  of  London  in  its  very  worst  form,  he  had  been 
compelled  to  give  up  the  cultivation  of  plants,  until  the  following 
simple  incident  seemed  to  point  out  a  mode  by  which  he  could 
follow  his  favorite  amusement  with  some  degree  of  success.  He 
had  buried  the  chrysalis  of  a  sphinx  in  some  moist  mould,  which 
was  inclosed  in  a  glass  bottle  covered  with  a  top.  In  watching 
the  bottle  from  day  to  day,  he  observed  that  when  exposed  to 
the  warmth  of  the  sun  the  moisture  rose  from  the  mould,  and 
became  condensed  on  the  inner  surface  of  the  glass,  and  again 
fell  back  upon  the  mould  during  the  night,  thus  keeping  up  a 
continual  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  within  the  glass ;  he  also  ob- 
served about  a  week  prior  to  the  final  change  of  the  insect,  a 
seedling  fern  and  grass  appear  on  the  surface  of  the  mould. 
Ifter  having  secured  the  insect,  Mr.  Ward  set  himself  to  observe 

*  The  materials  for  this  paper  mre  chiefly  from  Chambers's  Edinburgh 
Journal,  with  some  slight  additions  from  Mr.  Ellis's  paper  read  to  the  Bo- 
lanical  Society  of  Edinburgh. 


92  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

tne  development  of  these  plants  in  this  confined  situation.  He 
placed  the  bottle  outside  the  window  of  his  study,  where  the 
plants  continued  for  several  years  to  exhibit  a  healthy  vegetation, 
suggesting  at  the  same  time  further  experiments,  which  have  led 
to  a  most  extraordinary  result,  when  we  consider,  that  by  this 
simple  application  of  the  laws  of  nature  as  regards  atmosphere, 
the  most  forbidding  local  circumstances  may  be  overcome,  and 
that  any  person,  whether  inhabiting  the  most  humble  or  the  most 
splendid  dwelling,  provided  it  be  freely  exposed  for  a  few  hours 
every  day  to  the  sun's  light,  has  it  in  his  power  to  rear  and  cul- 
tivate a  miscellaneous  collection  of  plants,  to  enjoy  the  beauty  of 
their  appearance,  and  to  watch  their  progress  through  all  the 
stages  of  their  growth,  at  an  expense  so  insignificant  as  to  be 
within  the  means  of  every  man  even  in  very  moderate  circum- 
stances. 

To  do  this  he  must  provide  an  apparatus  consisting  of  a  box, 
a  stand,  and  a  glass  roof,  of  a  size  according  to  his  desires  and 
means.  We  shall  suppose  one  is  wanted  of  a  small  size  to  stand 
in  a  window  in  an  apartment  of  limited  dimensions.  The  stand, 


we  will  suppose,  is  one  foot  ten  inches  in  height,  the  box  whic 
is  to  contain  the  mould  eight  inches  and  a  half,  and  the  glnss 
frame  one  foot  sevon  inches  and  a  half; — in  all  four  feet  two  in- 


DOMESTIC   GREENHOUSES. 


93 


uies  in  heigrit  «y  fhree  feet  in  length  and  a  foot  and  a  half  in 
breath.  If  elegance  is  aimed  at,  the  box  should  be  made  of 
mahogany,  and  supported  on  four  legs,  furnished  with  movable 
castor ;  the  box  which  is  to  contain  the  soil,  eight  and  a  half  in- 
ches in  height,  should  be  made  of  well-seasoned  St.  Domingo 
mahogany,  steeped  in  Kyan's  composition,  for  a  fortnight ;  the 
sides,  one  and  a  quarter  inches  thick,  mitered  and  dove-tailed  to- 
gether at  the  corners.  The  bottom  of  the  box  should  be  Hon- 
duras mahogany,  one  inch  thick,  formed  of  numerous  small  pieces, 


framed  and  flush-paneled,  and  arranged  so  as  best  to  resist  the 
yielding  of  the  wood.  To  give  it  greater  strength,  two  cross 
pieces  or  ties  stretch  from  side  to  side  at  equal  distance  from 
each  other;  these  are  dove-tailed  on  each  side,  thus  dividing  the 
box  into  three  compartments,  but  leaving  open  spaces  under  the 


94  LADIES'  FLOWEK  GARDENER. 

ties  and  holes  through  their  centers  to  permit  the  moisture  to  per 
colate  freely  through  the  whole  of  the  mould.  The  bottom  being 
properly  fitted,  the  sides  are  fixed  to  it  with  brass  nails — no  iron 
being  used  in  any  part.  When  completed  and  filled  with  plants, 
the  apparatus  appears  something  like  the  cut  on  p.  93. 

At  the  upper  edge  of  the  box  a  groove  is  sunk  to  receive  the 
lower  edge  of  the  glass  roof  which  rests  securely  in  it.  This 
groove  is  lined  with  brass ;  its  inner  lip  is  one  sixteenth  of  an 
inch  lower  than  the  outer,  and  at  each  end  is  a  notch  one  fifth  of 
an  inch  only  above  the  bottom  of  the  groove  to  allow  the  con- 
densed moisture  which  trickles  down  the  inside  of  the  glass  to 
flow  back  into  the  mould. 

The  frame-work  cover  of  which  we  have  now  to  speak  is  made 
of  brass,  with  a  door  on  one  side,  made  to  fit  close.  The  glass 
used  for  it  may  be  of  flattened  crown-glass  ;  that  for  the  dooi 
should  be  plate-glass.  The  panes  must  be  fitted  in  the  frames 
with  great  care,  and  with  a  putty  specially  made  for  the  purpose, 
which  should,  when  dry,  receive  three  coats  of  paint.  Along  the 
top  of  the  roof,  hooks  or  brass  rods  may  be  placed,  from  which 
small  pots  may  be  suspended.  The  whole  of  the  frame-work 
should  be  well  fitted,  and  nicely  put  together,  so  as  to  preclude 
as  far  as  possible  all  interchange  between  the  air  in  the  case  and 
that  in  the  room. 

We  now  come  to  the  preparation  fcr  the  plants.  Lay  the 
bottom  of  the  box  with  pieces  of  broken  earthenware,  to  a  depth 
of  two  inches,  as  an  open  subsoil.  Next,  lay  a  stratum  of  turfy 
loam  one  inch  deep,  and  fill  in  the  remainder  of  the*  space  with 
soil,  composed  of  equal  portions  of  peat  and  loam,  mixed  with 
about  one-twentieth  part  of  rough  white  sand,  free  from  iron 
The  artificial  garden-plot  is  now  ready  to  receive  the  plants. 
Plant  these  in  the  usual  manner,  and  then  shower  over  them,  with 
a  fine  rote  watering-pot,  from  three  to  lour  gallons  of  water,  till 


DOMESTIC   GREENHOUSES.  96 

the  soil  be  pretty  well  saturated,  and  the  Iquid  begins  to  run  off 
by  the  two  openings  in  the  bottom.  After  draining  thus  for 
twenty-four  hours,  cork  up  the  holes,  place  the  glass-case  on  the 
box,  and  the  operation  will  be  finished. 

After  the  first  preparation,  the  plants  require  little  or  no  care  ; 
the  case  need  only  be  opened  for  the  removal  of  dead  leaves,  01 
for  a  little  trimming,  when  required.  Plants  in  open  flower-pota 
are  exposed  to  the  vicissitudes  of  change  of  climate,  and  require 
constant  watering  ;  but  the  plants  in  these  cases  seem  to  be  in- 
dependent of  any  change  of  temperature  in  the  air,  and  water 
themselves.  The  moisture  rises  by  the  sun's  influence  from  the 
moistened  earth,  cherishes  the  leaves  of  the  plants  in  its  aerial 
condition,  and  during  the  cool  of  night  falls  to  the  earth  again 
like  rain  or  dew.  In  this  manner  there  is  a  constant  succession 
of  rising  and  falling  of  moisture,  in  imitation  of  the  great  processes 
of  nature,  daily  going  on  in  the  fields  around  us.  The  plant-case 
is  a  little  world  in  itself,  in  which  vegetation  is  supported  solely 
by  the  resources  originally  communicated  to  it. 

Not  the  least  remarkable  part  in  the  economy  of  the  case  is 
the  preservation  of  atmospheric  purity.  To  all  who  reflect  for 
the  first  time  on  this  subject,  it  will  seem  incomprehensible  how 
the  plants  can  possibly  thrive  and  blossom  without  the  occasional 
interchange  of  fresh  air  with  the  atmosphere.  This  certainly  does 
appear  extraordinary,  yet  it  is  ascertained  by  experiment  that  no 
such  reinvigoration  is  requisite.  To  account  for  the  phenomena, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  explain  the  constitution  of  atmospheric  air, 
and  the  means  adopted  by  nature  for  its  purification. 

Air  consists  of  three  gases  in  close  mechanical  union — nitrogen, 
oxygen  and  carbonic  acid,  in  the  proportion  of  about  79  of  nitro- 
gen, 20  oxygen,  and  1  of  carbonic  acid,  in  100  parts  of  pure  air. 
In  this  mixed  composition,  the  essential  element  for  the  support 
of  respiration  in  both  animals  and  plants,  and  also  for  combustion, 


96  LADIES'  FLOWEK  GARDENEK. 

is  the  oxygen,  the  nitrogen  being  little  else  than  a  diluent  tc 
modify  the  strength  of  the  oxygen.  It  was  long  believed  by  men 
of  science  that  plants  possessed  the  power  of  exuding  oxygen, 
and  so  formed  a  prime  agent  for  restoring  vitiated  air  to  purity. 
Later  investigations,,  however,  chiefly  by  French  chemists,  have 
made  it  evident  that  plants  have  no  such  power,  unless  when 
placed  under  the  influence  of  the  sun's  rays,  or,  in  other  words, 
that  solar  light  is  the  grand  cleanser  of  the  atmosphere,  and  with- 
out which  both  plants  and  animals  languish  and  die.  With 
respect  to  plants  in  particular,  it  is  ascertained  that,  while  inhaling 
oxygen  and  expiring  carbonic  acid,  their  leaves  possess  the 
remarkable  property,  in  conjunction  with  the  sun's  light,  of 
re-transforming  the  carbonic  acid  into  oxygen.  At  night,  when 
the  light  of  day  has  departed,  the  expired  carbonic  acid  may  be 
detected  in  the  neighborhood  of  plants ;  and  hence  one  cause  of 
injury  to  health  by  breathing  night  air  ;  but  when  the  morning 
sun  again  bursts  upon  the  scene,  a  great  chemical  process  com- 
mences in  the  atmosphere — the  carbonic  acid  is  decomposed, 
oxygen  is  evolved,  and  all  nature  rejoices  in  a  recreation  of  its 
appropriate  nourishment. 

A  question  will  here  readily  occur — what  species  of  plants  are 
best  adapted  for  these  domestic  greenhouses  ?  We  are  fortu- 
nately enabled  to  answer  this  inquiry  by  referring  to  a  learned 
paper  on  the  subject  by  Mr.  Ellis,  which  was  read  to  the  Botani- 
cal Society  of  Edinburgh,  January  13,  1839,  and  afterwards 
published  in  the  Gardener's  Magazine,  and  also  as  a  separate 
pamphlet.  According  to  this  gentleman's  statement,  the  plants 
most  suitable  are  "  those  which  partake  largely  of  a  cellular 
structure,  and  possess  a  succulent  character,  and  especially  those 
which  have  fleshy  leaves  ;  whilst,  on  the  contrary,  the  continued 
humidity  is  unfavorable  to  the  development  of  flowers  of  most 
erogenous  plants,  except  such  as  naturally  grow  in  moist  and 
shady  situations."  Plants,  therefore,  which  have  to  grow  and 


DOMESTIC   GREENHOUSES. 


97 


bloom  in  cavernous  and  moist  situations,  or  in  moist  and  warm 
climates,  are  best  adapted  for  these  cases.  However,  within  this 
class  of  vegetables  there  are  many  beautiful  and  highly  luxuriant 
plants,  which  it  would  afford  no  small  pleasure  to  contemplate. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  plants  from  various  countries,  which 
were  set  in  a  box,  under  Mr.  Ellis's  directions,  and  examined  from 
nine  to  twelve  months  afterwards  : 


BOTANICAL  NAMES. 

Chamae'rops  humilis 
Centiaiuz  verna 

-tfdiantum  Capillus  Veneris 
Primula  farinosa 

Primula  scotica 

Fierbascum  Myconi 
villosa 


Chamae'rops  Palmetto 
Dionae'a  Muscipula 
Sarracenia  purpurea 

Epigae'a  repens 
Testudinaria  elephantipes 
A'\oe  retusa 
Rhododendron  chrysanthum 

Chamoecistus 
G'ycas  revoluta 
Nepenthes  distillatoria 
Cypripedium  venustum  in- 

signe 

Agave  geminiflora 
*Goodyera  discolor 
*£chinocactus  multiplex 
*peruviana 

myriacantha 
*formosa 

O'ttoni 

Candida 

Epiphyllum  truncatum 
Cereus  flagelliformis 
Lycopodium  stoloniferum 


COUNTRY.  REMARKS. 

Italy,  Sicily,  Spain  Increased  l-4th  its  original 
size 

England  Flowered,  but  no  difference 

in  size 

England  Increased  l-8th 

Scotland  Flowered;  atmosphere  ra- 

ther damp  for  it 

Scotland  Flowered ;  atmosphere  ra- 

ther damp  for  it 

Scotland  Increased  l-8th 

Scotland  Flowered ;  not  very  healthy 

Carolina  Increased  l-3d 

Carolina  Made  l-8th 

Carolina  Increased  4  times  its  origi- 

nal size 

Carolina  Increased  one-half 

Cape  of  Good  Hope  Made  a  shoot  10  inches  long 

Cape  of  Good  Hope  Made  l-3rd,  showing  flower 


Siberia 

Austria 

China 

Ceylon 

Nepal 

Nepal 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Mexico 

Brazil 

Peru 

Cuba 


Increased  one-half     [spiket 
Increased  l-3d 
Increased  l-8th 
Increased  2-3ds 
Increased  l-5th 
Increased  l-4th 
Increased  l-3d 
No  perceptible  difference 
Increased  one-half 
Increased  one-half 
Increased  one-half 
Increased  l-3d 
Increased  l-4th 
Increased  one -half 
Increased  2-3ds 
Increased  one-half 
Very  luxuriant 


Those  marked  thus  *  are  growing  in  fancy  pots,  and  suspended  frora 
the  roof  of  the  plant-case. 


98  LADIES7   FLOWER   GARDENER. 

The  alternate  action  of  vitiation  and  purification  is  emphatically 
described  as  follows  by  Mr.  Ellis,  in  the  pamphlet  before  us  : — 
"  Under  a  bright  sunshine,  the  two  processes  by  which  carbonic 
acid  is  alternately  formed  and  decomposed  go  on  simultaneously ; 
and  their  necessary  operation,  in  as  far  as  regards  the  condition 
of  the  air,  is  that  of  counteracting  each  other.  Hence,  though 
both  may  be  continually  exercised  in  favorable  circumstances,  the 
effects  of  neither  on  the  atmosphere  can  be  ascertained  by  ordi 
nary  means  ;  and,  consequently,  though,  in  the  experiments  of 
De  Saussure  with  common  air,  the  production  and  decomposition 
of  carbonic  acid  by  plants  in  sunshine  must  have  been  continually 
going  on,  yet,  in  all  the  analysis  which  he  made,  the  air  was 
found  unchanged,  either  in  purity  or  volume  ;  in  other  words,  the 
processes  of  formation  and  decomposition  of  this  acid  gas  exactly 
counterbalanced  each  other. 

"  Of  the  two  processes  which  have  now  been  described  (con- 
tinues our  authority),  each  may  be  considered  as  in  its  nature  and 
purpose  quite  distinct  from  the  other  ;  hence  their  efforts  may  be 
readily  distinguished  ;  neither  do  they  necessarily  interfere,  when 
actually  working  together.  The  first  or  deteriorating  process,  in 
which  oxygen  gas  is  consumed,  goes  on  at  all  times  and  in  all 
circumstances  when  vegetation  is  active.  It  requires  always  a 
suitable  temperature  in  which  to  display  itself ;  and  when  that 
temperature  falls  below  a  certain  point,  which  is  very  variable  in 
regard  to  different  plants,  the  process  is  more  or  less  completely 
suspended,  again  to  be  renewed  when  the  temperature  shall  re- 
turn. This  conversion  of  oxygen  into  carbonic  acid  is  as  neces- 
sary to  the  evolution  of  the  seed  as  to  the  growth  of  the  plant, 
and  is  all  that  is  required  for  germination.  But  the  plant  requires 
something  more ;  for  if  light  be  excluded,  vegetation  proceeds 
imperfectly,  and  the  plant  does  not  then  acquire  its  proper  color 
and  other  active  prope>-*,ies  which  it  ought  to  have.  The  chio! 


1/OHESTIC   GREENHOUSES.  99 

organs  by  whi.n  the  consumption  of  oxygen  gas  is  effected  are 
the  leaves ;  and  its  purpose,  in  great  part  at  loast,  seems  to  be 
that  of  producing  some  necessary  change  in  the  sap  during  its 
transmission  through  those  organs,  on  its  way  from  the  vessels  of 
the  wood  to  those  of  the  inner  bark,  whereby  it  may  be  rendered 
fit  for  the  purposes  of  nutrition  and  growth.  In  its  nature  and 
object,  therefore,  as  well  as  in  the  specific  change  which  it  pro- 
duces in  the  air,  this  process  closely  resembles  the  function  of 
respiration  in  animals,  and  may  thus  with  propriety  be  deemed  a 
physiological  process.  The  second,  or  purifying  process,  in  which 
oxygen  gas  is  evolved,  differs  in  all  respects  from  that  which  has 
just  been  described.  It  is  in  a  great  measure  independent  of 
temperature  ;  at  least  it  proceeds  in  temperatures  too  low  to  sup- 
port vegetation,  provided  light  be  present — an  agent  not  required 
for  germination,  nor  essential  to  vegetable  development.  The 
organs  by  which  this  process  acts  on  the  air  are,  as  before,  the 
leaves  ;  not,  however,  by  changing  the  qualities  of  the  sap  in  the 
vessels  of  those  organs,  but  by  producing  changes  in  the  chromule, 
or  colorable  matter,  in  their  cells,  to  which  it  imparts  color  and 
other  active  properties.  In  doing  this,  it  does  not  convert  the 
oxygen  gas  of  the  air  into  carbonic  acid,  but,  by  decomposing  that 
acid  gas,  restores  to  the  air  the  identical  portion  of  oxygen  of 
which  the  former  process  had  deprived  it.  The  former  process, 
carried  on  by  the  agency  of  the  oxygen  gas  of  the  air,  was  essen- 
tial to  living  action,  and  affected  the  well-being  of  the  whole 
plant ;  that  exercised  by  the  agency  of  light  is  not  necessary  to 
life,  is  local,  not  general  in  its  operation,  and  is  capable  of  pro- 
ceeding in  circumstances  and  under  conditions  incompatible  'vith 
living  action.  By  withdrawing  the  air  altogether,  or  depriving  it 
of  oxygen  gas,  vegetation  soon  ceases  through  the  whole  plant ; 
but  the  exclusion  of  light  from  any  part  of  the  plant  affects  that 
part  only ;  and  even  the  total  exclusion  of  that  agent  only  de- 


1 00  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

privcs  the  plant  of  certain  properties  necessary  to  its  perfection, 
but  not  essential  to  its  life.  These  differences  in  the  processes  by 
which  oxygen  gas  is  alternately  consumed  and  evolved,  during 
the  vegetation  of  plants  in  sunshine,  are  so  manifest,  both  in  their 
nature  and  effects,  as  to  satisfy  the  ascription  of  a  name  to  th6 
latter  process  distinct  from  that  given  to  the  former.  It  might, 
perhaps,  be  denominated  the  chemical  process,  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  that  named  physiological. 

"  It  would  contribute  much,  we  think,  to  simplify  our  inquiries 
concerning  vegetation,  to  bear  in  mind  these  distinctions ;  to  con- 
eider  the  one  process  as  accomplished  by  the  agency  of  the  air, 
and  essential  to  the  life  and  growth  of  the  plant ;  the  other,  as 
subordinate,  depending  on  the  agency  of  light,  and  though  neces- 
sary to  the  perfection  of  vegetation,  yet  not  essential  to  its  exist- 
ence. In  this  manner  each  process  may  be  followed  out  sepa- 
rately, both  in  regard  to  its  immediate  effects  and  remoter  con- 
sequences, without  clashing  with  the  other ;  and  the  apparently 
discordant  and  even  contradictory  phenomena  which  on  a  first 
view  they  seem  to  exhibit,  may  be  reconciled,  and  considered,  not 
less  in  theory  than  in  fact,  as  conspiring  together  to  form  one 
harmonious  and  perfect  wnole." 

After  these  explanations,  little  need  be  added  respecting  the 
snpply  of  pure  air  to  domestic  greenhouses.  The  deterioration 
of  the  atmosphere  in  the  case  is  daily  counteracted  by  an  oppo- 
site process  of  purification,  so  that  amidst  the  vicissitudes  of  per- 
petual change,  the  air  is  maintained  in  a  state  of  nearly  uniform 
composition  and  purity,  and  serves  over  and  over  again  for  all  the 
purposes  of  vegetation.  It  may,  however,  be  stated,  to  prevent 
misconception,  that  the  more  pure  the  air  of  the  apartment,  the 
plants  will  have  the  better  chance  of  thriving,  because  there  must 
necessarily  be  an  interchange  to  some  extent  betwixt  the  air  of 
the  room  and  the  case,  in  consequence  of  the  daily  expansion 


DOMESTIC   GREENHOUSES. 


101 


from  heat,  and  nightly  condensation  from  cold.  This  interchange 
will  be  effected  by  the  minute  crevices  in  the  apparatus,  and 
therefore  requires  no  special  provision. 


102  LADIES7  FLOWER  GARDENER. 


CHAPTER  X. 

MONTHLY    NOTICES. 

RECAPITULATION  of  the  work  which  each  month 
presents  to  the  gardener's  notice  will  be  useful.  By 
occasionally  glancing  over  the  Monthly  Notices,  the  me- 
mory is  refreshed ;  and  it  will  be  found  that  even  the  three  winter 
months  allow  the  young  gardener  no  remission  from  labor. 
There  is  something  to  be  done  in  every  week  in  the  year — some- 
thing to  be  attended  to,  which  amuses  the  mind,  interests  the 
imagination,  and  benefits  the  general  tone  of  mental  and  physical 
health. 

JANUAB7. 

Let  your  lawn  and  grass  walks  be  kept  neat  and  smooth,  by 
rolling,  this  month  ;  and  if  any  part  of  the  grounds  require  fresh 
turf,  this  is  the  season  for  cutting  and  laying  it  down.  If  you 
live  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  common,  that  is  the  best  ground 
for  cutting  turf,  as  the  herbage  is  short,  and  free  from  nettles, 
docks,  &c.  Lay  it  down  firm  and  even,  allowing  for  the  sinking 
of  the  newly-laid  earth,  about  an  inch  or  two.  Roll  it  well,  after 
having  laid  down  the  turf. 

Keep  the  gravel  walks  also  from  weeds  and  moss,  and  roll 
them  in  dry  weather.  If  you  attempt  to  roll  gravel  in  wet  wea- 
ther, the  gravel  clings  to  the  roller. 

Dig  the  clumps  or  spots  where  you  mean  to  plant  evergreens, 
in  February  and  March,  that  the  ground  may  be  trenched  in 


MONTHLY  NOTICES.  103 

readiness.  The  frost  of  this  month  will  render  newly-dug  earth 
more  friable,  and  the  snow  will  enrich  it. 

If  the  weather  is  very  settled  and  mild,  you  may  still  plant 
out  hardy  deciduous  shrubs,  such  as  sweetbriars,  double 
bramble,  double-blossomed  cherry,  dwarf  almond,  jasmines, 
honeysuckles,  roses,  lilacs,  laburnums,  guelder  rose,  Spiraea  frutex, 
mezereons,  <fec.  Transplant  each  shrub  with  a  good  ball  of  earth 
round  its  roots. 

Prune  flowering  shrubs  now,  where  they  require  it,  with  a 
sharp  knife,  not  with  shears.  When  I  say  "  flowering  shrubs," 
I  do  not  mean  shrubs  in  flower,  but  shrubs  that  do  flower. 

Transplant  suckers  from  the  hardy  flowering  shrubs,  if  they 
have  not  been  done  before.  Take  them  up  with  good  roots,  and 
support  them  neatly  with  stakes. 

Cuttings  of  young  shoots  of  hardy  deciduous  shrubs  may  be 
planted  in  mild  weather,  to  root,  and  form  good  plants  in  the 
autumn.  Layers  may  be  also  formed. 

Protect  all  the  choicer  kinds  of  flowering  shrubs,  and  all  cut- 
tings of  every  kind,  from  severe  frosts,  by  spreading  litter  over 
them. 

Plant  tulips  now — always  providing  the  weather  is  mild — to 
blow  late  in  the  year ;  but  they  will  not  be  so  handsome  as  those 
which  were  planted  again  in  September  and  October. 

Plant  any  ranunculuses,  anemones,  &c.,  you  may  have  out  of 
the  ground,  to  come  in  late  blowing ;  but,  like  the  tulips,  they 
will  not  bear  such  fine  blooms.  Protect  everything  from  severe 
weather,  as  well  as  you  can,  this  month,  particularly  your  choicer 
sorts  of  bulbs,  and  tuberous-rooted  perennials. 

FEBRUARY. 

February  is  the  first  spring  month,  and  the  parterre  will  begin 
to  make  gradual  approaches  to  gaiety  and  life.  The  anemones. 


104  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

hepaticas,  &c.,  will  now  bud  and  flower,  if  the  weather  is  genial ; 
and  the  crocus  and  snowdrop  will  put  forth  their  blooms  to  meet 
the  sun  on  his  returning  march. 

About  the  end  of  this  month,  you  may  begin  to  sow  the  hardy 
annuals.  I  prefer  April,  but  it  may  not  be  convenient  always  to 
wait  so  long  ;  therefore  sow  now  the  seeds  of  hawkweed,  lavatera, 
Venus's  looking-glass,  Venus's  navelwort,  candytuft,  larkspurs, 
lupines,  convolvulus,  flos  Adonis,  dwarf  lychnis,  nigelia,  annual 
sunflowers,  &c. 

This  month,  you  may  plant  and  transplant,  fearlessly,  all  hardy, 
fibrous-rooted  flowering  perennials  and  biennials,  such  as  saxifrage, 
gentianella,  hepaticas,  violets,  primroses  of  all  sorts,  polyanthuses, 
double  daisies,  thrift,  &c. ;  rose  campions,  rockets,  campanulas, 
sweet-williams,  hollyhocks,  scarlet  lychnis,  carnations,  pinks, 
monk's-hood,  perennial  asters  and  sunflowers,  &c. 

Plant  cuttings  of  roses,  honeysuckles,  and  jasmines. 

If  the  weather  is  mild,  you  may  transplant  many  kinds  of 
evergreen  shrubs,  such  as  phillyreas,  alaternuses,  laurels,  laurus- 
tinus,  pyracanthas,  cistuses,  &c.  Let  there  be  a  ball  of  earth 
round  their  roots,  when  you  take  them  out  of  the  ground. 

If  box  edging  is  required,  plant  it  now ;  water  it,  and  the  plants 
will  soon  root. 

Dig  the  borders,  carefully  and  lightly,  with  your  garden  fork  ; 
make  the  garden  look  neat,  and  free  from  weeds ;  clear  away 
dead  leaves  ;  sweep  the  lawn  and  walks  ;  and  let  spring  advance 
in  its  proper  order. 

MARCH. 

Now  plant  away.  Evergreens  cannot  be  moved  at  a  better 
period.  Deciduous  flowering  shrubs  may  also  be  still  planted, 
such  as  Althaea  frutex,  syrir.gas,  roses,  honeysuckles,  mezereons, 


MONTHLY  NOTICES.  105 

sumach,  labunwms,  lilacs,  jasmines,  candleberry  myrtles,  guelder 
roses,  <fec. 

Where  the  borders  require  filling  up,  the  following  plants  may 
still  be  moved,  but  do  it  early  in  this  month  : — 

Lychnises,  campanulas,  Canterbury  bells,  tree  primroses, 
rockets,  sweet-williams,  wallflowers,  columbines,  monk's-hood, 
rose  campions,  perennial  asters  and  sunflowers,  foxgloves,  <fec. 

Sow  perennial  *nd  biennial  flower  seeds  about  the  last  week 
hi  this  month.  Stake  your  hyacinths,  when  the  flower  stems  are 
tall. 

Plant  out  layered  carnations  of  last  year,  into  the  places  where 
they  ought  to  remain. 

Give  fresh  earth  to  any  plants  in  pots,  such  as  carnations,  pinks, 
auriculas,  double  sweet-williams,  double  stock  gillyflowers,  rock- 
ets, <fec. 

Sow  annuals  of  all  hardy  kinds. 

Transplant  any  hardy  roses,  which  you  may  wish  should  blow 
late  in  the  year. 

Plant  box,  for  edgings,  still ;  and  roll  the  lawn  and  grass  walks. 

Transplant  any  tenderer  kinds  of  annuals  which  you  may  have 
been  at  the  pains  of  raising  in,  or  procuring  from,  a  hot-bed. 

Keep  the  garden  quite  free  from  weeds  and  dead  leaves. 

APRIL. 

Now  place  sticks  to  every  plant  or  stalk  requiring  support 
Fix  the  sticks,  or  light  iron  rods,  firmly  in  the  ground  ;  and  tie 
the  stems  to  each  stick  neatly,  in  two  or  three  places. 

Some  evergreens  .may  yet  be  removed,  as  laurels,  laurustmus, 
Portugal  laurel,  cistuses,  arbutus,  magnolias,  pyracanthas,  <fec. 

Propagate  auriculas,  by  slipping  off  their  suckers  and  offsets, 

this  month. 

6* 


106  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

Sow  carnation  and  polyanthus  seeds  still.  Sow,  also,  perennial 
and  biennial  seeds. 

Where  any  perennial  or  biennial  fibrous-rooted  flowers  are 
wanted,  transplant  them  only  in  the  first  week  of  this  month,  and 
they  must  have  each  a  good  ball  of  earth  attached  to  them ;  but 
this  work  should  be  completed  in  February,  or  March  at  farthest. 

Every  sort  of  annual  may  now  be  sown. 

Take  care  of  your  hyacinths,  tulips,  ranunculuses,  and  ane- 
mones now,  for  they  will  be  hastening  into  bloom. 

Place  your  auriculas,  hyacinths,  &c.,  which  may  be  in  pots,  in 
a  sheltered  place,  during  heavy  rains  or  winds ;  and  shelter  those 
flowers  which  are  in  the  borders  as  well  as  you  can.  Trim  them 
from  dead  leaves. 

Keep  your  lawn  and  grass  walks  nicely  mown  and  rolled,  and 
your  borders  free  from  weeds  and  rubbish. 

MAY. 

Propagate  perennial  fibrous-rooted  plants  by  cuttings. 

Propagate  double  wall-flowers  by  slips  of  the  young  shoots  of 
the  head. 

Sow  annuals  for  succession ;  such  as  sweet-peas,  nasturtiums, 
Javatera,  lupines,  flos  Adonis,  &c. 

Take  up  those  hyacinths,  tulips,  &c.  which  have  done  flower- 
ing, and  dry  them  in  the  shade  to  put  away. 

Weeds  grow  quickly  now :  hoe  them  up  wherever  you  see 
them.  Support  all  flowers  with  sticks  ;  train  them  upright.  Clear 
away  all  the  dead  leaves  from  your  carnations,  and  gently  stir 
the  earth  round  them  with  your  smallest  trowel. 

Look  round  the  borders  now,  and  take  off  irregular  shoots. 


MONTHLY  NOTICES.  107 

JUNE. 

Propagate  carnations  by  layers  and  pipings.  Propagate  double 
sweet-williams  and  pinks  by  layers  and  cuttings,  or  slips. 

Propagate  perennial  fibrous-rooted  plants  by  cuttings  of  the 
stalks. 

Transplant  the  large  annuals  from  the  seedling  bed  to  the 
places  where  they  are  to  remain.  Let  this  be  done  in  showery 
weather,  if  possible. 

Take  up  all  bulbs,  ranunculuses,  and  anemone  roots,  &c.,  as  the 
flowers  and  leaves  decay. 

Water  the  delicate  plants,  if  the  weather  proves  dry :  give  a 
moderate  watering  every  evening,  but  never  in  the  heat  of  the 
day. 

Sow  yet  some  hardy  annuals,  such  as  ten- week  stocks,  virgin 
stock,  &c. 

Plant  out  China-asters,  Chinese  hollyhocks,  ten-week  stocks, 
large  convolvolus,  &c.,  but  let  each  root  have  a  ball  of  earth 
round  it. 

Examine  the  perennial  and  biennial  plants,  to  cut  off  all  dead, 
broken,  or  decaying  shoots.  Trim  the  African  and  French  mari- 
golds from  their  lower  straggling  shoots,  that  they  may  present  a 
neat,  upright  appearance.  Trim  the  chrysanthemums,  which  are 
apt  to  branch  too  near  the  root,  and  stake  them  neatly. 

Plant  out  carnations  and  pink  seedlings  into  their  proper  places. 

Keep  everything  just  moderately  moist,  if  there  is  a  long 
drought  in  this  month. 

JULY. 

You  may  lay  carnations  and  double  sweet-williams  still ;   but 
let  it  be  done  before  the  end  of  the  second  week  in  this  month. 
Propagate  pinks  by  slips  and  pipings 


108 

Transplant  the  seedling  auriculas  which  were  sown  last  year, 
as  also  the  seedling  polyanthus. 

Transplant  the  perennial  and  biennial  seedlings  which  were  not 
done  last  month,  to  remain  till  October. 

Take  up  all  bulbs  as  fast  as  they  decay  their  leaves.  If  this 
month  prove  hot  and  dry,  place  your  potted  carnations  in  a  shel- 
tered situation,  and  keep  them  just  moist. 

Support  flowering  shrubs  and  plants,  and  cut  away  decayed 
stems.  Keep  the  borders  clean.  Mow  the  lawn  and  grass  walks. 
Plant  autumnal  bulbs. 

AUGUST. 

You  may  now  begin  to  propagate  some  double-flowered  and 
approved  fibrous-rooted  plants  the  end  of  the  month,  if  they  have 
done  flowering — such,  for  instance,  as  the  double  rose  campion, 
catchfly,  double  scarlet  lychnis,  double  rocket,  double  ragged 
robin,  bachelor's  buttons,  gentianella,  polyanthuses,  auriculas,  &c. 

Sow  auricula  and  polyanthus  seed  on  a  warm,  dry  day ;  and 
remove  carnation  layers  to  some  place  where  they  may  remain 
till  October  to  gain  strength. 

Sow  seeds  of  bulbs. 

Sow  anemone  and  ranunculus  seed. 

Remove  all  bulbs  which  have  done  flowering. 

Cut  and  trim  edgings  of  box.  Clip  holly,  yew,  and  privet 
hedges. 

Gather  flower  seeds. 

Plant  autumnal  bulbs,  if  any  are  still  above  ground,  such  an 
colchicums,  autumnal  narcissus,  amaryllis,  and  autumn  crocus. 

Trim  the  flower  plants  ;  mow  the  lawn  and  grass  walks,  and 
keep  every  department  in  neat  order. 


MONTHLY  NOTICES.  109 


SEPTEMBER. 

Transplant,  in  any  moist  or  showery  weather  this  month,  the 
perennial  and  biennial  seedlings  to  their  proper  situations,  with  a 
'vail  of  earth  round  their  roots. 

Propagate  fibrous-rooted  plants. 

Prepare  the  spots  where  you  mean  to  deposit  anemone  and 
ranunculus  roots  any  time  between  the  end  of  this  month  and  the 
end  of  October ;  and  dig  all  beds  and  borders  which  are  vacant, 
to  prepare  them  also  for  receiving  roots  and  plants  next  month. 

Transplant  peonies,  flag  irises,  monk's-hood,  fraxinella,  and 
such  like  plants,  to  part  their  roots  and  remove  each  root  to  its 
destined  position. 

Transplant  evergreens. 

Plant  cuttings  of  honey-suckles,  and  other  shrubs. 

Plant  hyacinth  and  tulip  roots  for  early  spring  bloom. 

Plant  box  by  slips  or  roots. 

Mow  grass  lawn  and  walks.  Clear  away  flower  stems,  and 
trim  flowering  plants. 

Sow  seeds  of  bulbous  flowers,  if  not  done  last  month. 

OCTOBER. 

This  L«  a  very  busy  month ;  for  the  garden  should  now  be 
cleared  and  arranged  for  the  season. 

Transplant  all  sorts  of  fibrous-rooted  perennial  and  biennial 
plants  now  where  they  are  intended  to  remain. 

Put  the  bulbs  into  the  ground  again ;  and  transplant  the 
different  layered  plants  into  their  respective  places. 

Prune  flowering  shrubs  of  all  sorts.  Plant  and  transplant  all 
hardy  deciduous  shrubs,  and  their  suckers. 


110  LADIES'  FLOWER  GARDENER. 

Dig  up  and  part  the  roots  of  all  flowers  which  require  so  doing, 
and  replant  them. 

Plant  cuttings  of  honeysuckles,  laurels,  <fec. 

Take  up  the  roots  of  dahlias,  and  put  them  carefully  away  till 
May. 

Trim  evergreens. 

Plant  box  edgings  ;  cut  away  the  long,  sticky  roots,  and  trim 
the  tops  even. 

Mow  grass  walks  and  lawns,  and  weed  gravel  walks. 

NOVEMBER. 

Prepare  compost  for  a  new  year  by  raking  dead  leaves,  so:.J, 
sand,  &c.,  in  a  heap,  to  turn  well  over  occasionally.  Pour  the 
brine,  soap-suds,  &c.,  from  the  house  over  it. 

Transplant  still  all  hardy  kinds  of  flowering  shrubs,  suckers,  (fee. 

Clear  the  borders  from  dead  annuals,  leaves,  stumps,  &c. ; 
shelter  the  choice  bulbs  and  double-flowering  plants. 

DECEMBER. 

Take  care  of  every  thing.  Protect  the  more  delicate  roots 
from  severe  frost,  by  strewing  ashes,  sand,  or  litter  over  them. 
Prune  shrubs,  and  dig  between  them. 

If  the  weather  is  open,  you  may  still  plant  hardy  sorts  ol 
flowering  shrubs. 


INDEX. 


ACONITES       ..             ..  ..             ••            .  •             ••          ?3,34, 45 

Alaturnus,  Layers  of  . .             . .             . .             . .                            74 

Amelioration  of  Soils  . .  ,  *              . .              .  •              . .              . .     '^1 

Amaryllis              . .  . .             . .             « .             • .              . .             4( 

Annuals          ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             . '.               20,  5tf 

self-sown    . .  . .             . .             . .             .  •             •  •            57 

to  sow                . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     58 

how  to  water  . .             . .             . .             . .             • «            5S 

when  to  sow      . .  . .             •  •             .  •             •  •             . .     58 

how  to  transplant  . .             . .             . .             . .             •  •             58 

to  !rim                ..  *         ..             ..             ..             ..             ..60 

List  of  less  tender  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .            60 

List  of  hardy     ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..61 

Ants,  to  destroy     . .  . .             . .             •  •             •  •             « •             25 

Anemone        ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             . .             ..47 

April.  List  of  Perennials  for  ..             ..             ••              ..             22 

Monthly  Notices  of          . .  . .             . .             . .             . .   105 

Arrangement  of  Shrubs  ..             ..             . «             ••             ..             69 

of  Flowers        . .  •                      . .             . .             . .             . .     19 

Arabian  Jasmine    ..  ...             ••             ••             . ,             ••             67 

Arbutus          . .             . .  . .              . .             . .             ,.             . .     70 

Arbor  Vitae             . .  •  •             . .             . .             . ,             . .             74 

Arsenic  Water,  to  rue'.  •  ».             *.             ..             ..              ..59 

Aspect  for  Flowers  . .             .  *             •  •             . .             .  •            14 

Auriculas        ..             ..  . .             ..             . .             ..               30.45 

Compost  for  . .            . .            . .            . .            . .            14 

Austrian  Briar                ..  ..             ..             ..             . .             ..65 

August,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..             ..           103 

List  of  Perennials  for       ..  ..            ..            ..             ..23 

Avroncator             ..  ..               •             ..             ..             ..             16 

Ayrshire  Roee               ..  . .             *.             . .             ..             ..66 


112  INDEX. 

Beds,  planting       . .  . .             . .             . .            . ,             . .            20 

Beds  of  Roses               ..  . ,             . .             ..            ..             ..65 

Belladonna            ..  ..             . .            .«             . .            ..             39 

Biennials        ..             ..  . .            ••             .,            . .             ..20 

Propagation  of  ..             .,            ..            ,.            ..48,52 

Seeds,  when  to  sow         ..  ,.             ..            ..             ..49 

to  shelter    ..  ..            ,.             ..            ,.            ..            52 

when  to  transplant  . .             . .             . .            • .            . .     34 

List  of  hardy  ..             ..             ..             ,.            ..            49 

Bligh.  ..  ..  26 

Brine       ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..50,51 

Bulbs             ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..36 

soil  for  . .             . .            .  •            • .            . .            36 

when  to  take  up  . .            . .            . .            . .            . .     37 

autumn-flowering  . .            , .            . .            .  •            . .            37 

Seed  of  ..  ..  ..  38 

to  replant  . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .            40 

arrangement  of  . .  . .             . .             . .            . .             . .     40 

List  of        ..  ..             ..             ..            ..          ...            41 

Cabbage  Rose               . .  . .             . .             . .             • .             . .     64 

Camellia  Japonica  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..            71 

Canterbury  Bells          . .  . .             . .             . .            . .             . .     50 

Carnations             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .            . .  28, 50, 53 

China  Asters  ..             ..  ..             . .             .  •             ..             ..56 

to  train       ..  . •             ••             ..             . .             ..            60 

Chrysanthemums         ..  ..             ..             ..             ..            ..56 

Cistus,  Gum          ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..             71 

Clay,  how  to  improve  ..  ..            ..            ..            ..            ..13 

Clarkias  . .             . .  . .             . .             . .            . .             . .            60 

Climbing  Rose             ..  ..             . .             . .             ..             ..66 

Colchicums,  Soil  for  . .             . .             •  •             .  •             . .            39 

when  to  plant   ..  ..             ..             ..             ,.             ..40 

Compost  for  Flowers  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..            13 

Convolvulus   ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..58 

Creepers,  as  decorations  . .             . .               .             . .             . .             18 

Crocus                 ..         ..  .,             ..             ..             ..             ..37 

autumnal,  when  to  plant  . .             • .             . .             . .            40 

Cuttings         ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..31 


IND£TJC.  113 

Cutting,  of  Perennials         . .  . .               .             •  •             • .             28 

Protection  for     ..  ..             ..             ••             ••             .,54 

of  Shrubs,  when  to  make        . .  .               . .             . .             72 

Dahlias           ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..30 

Daisies,  double      . .             . .  . .             .  •             •  •             ••             34 

Damask  Rose                . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     63 

Dead  leaves,  to  collect          . .  . .             . .            . .             . .             14 

Deciduous,  term  explained  . .             . .             •  •             . .             . .     27 

Shrubs,  List  of          ..  ..             ..             .,             ..             72 

December,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..              ..              ..109 

Devices  for  training  Jasmine  . .             . .             . .             . .             68 

Digging,  when  to  be  done  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..14 

Domestic  Greenhouses         . .  . .             • .              . .             • .             91 

Double-flowering  Plant*  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..35 

to  shelter    . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .            52 

Dress,  working             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..17 

Earwigs,  to  destroy              . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             25 

Employment  in  Summer  . .             .  •             . .             . .             . .     31 

Evergreens            ..             ..  ..             ..             » •  v          ..            69 

how  and  when  to  transplant  .  .*            . .             • .             . .     70 

how  to  layer             ..  . ,             ..             ..             ...          71 

to  make  Cuttings  of  . .             . .             . .             . .         . .     72 

to  prune      ..             ..  ..             ..             . .             ..             75 

Remarks  on        . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     71 

List  of                       . .  . .             . .             . .             . .            74 

February,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..  '03 

list  of  Perennials  for  . .             . .             . .             . .             22 

Fences  against  Hares  and  Rabbits  . .            . .             . .             . .     24 

Fibrous  root,  term  explained  . .             . .             . .             . .             27 

Flowers,  Aspect  for  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     14 

how  to  arrange          . .  . .             . .             . .                             18 

Flower  Seeds,  how  to  sow  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     38 

self-sown,  how  to  treat  . .             . .            . .             . .            57 

Flowering  Shrubs,  how  to  plant  ..          -..             ..             ..69 

Fly,  to  destroy  the  Green    ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             66 

Gardening,  remarks  on  ..             ..             ,.             ..             ,.10 

Gardens,  notices  of  old  English  ..             ..             ..             ..             m 

fiirden  general  remarks  upon  the  ..             ..             ..                     13 


114  INDEX. 

Garden,  laying  out  a     ..  •               .             ..             ..             ..18 

Soil  for       ..           ...  ..             ..             ..             ..             14 

Compost  for  . .             . .             . .             . .                     14 

Tools  necessary  for  ..  ..             ..             . .             ,.            16 

Working  Dress  for  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..17 

Gentian  . .             . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             , .             ?4 

Gentianella    ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..30 

Gillyflowers          ..             ..  ..              ..             ..             ..             57 

Golden  Rod   ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..34 

Gravel  Walks        ..  ..  ..15 

Green  Fly,  to  destroy  . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     66 

Ground,  management  of  . .             . .             . .             . .             14 

to  prepare  for  Seeds  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     57 

Gum  Cistus           ..             ..  ..             ..             ..              ..             71 

Guernsey  Lily               . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     39 

Hand-glasses,  substitute  for  . .  . .             . .             . .             . .            54 

Hares,  to  protect  against  . .             . .             . ,             . .             . .     24 

Hepaticas               . .             . .  . .             , .             . .             . .             30 

Herbaceous,  term  explained  . .             . .             . ,             . .             . .     27 

Hollyhocks           ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             51 

Honesty-         . .             . .  . .             . .               .             . .             . .     50 

Honeysuckles,  to  increase    ..  ..             ..             ..             ..            31 

Hyacinths      . .             . .  . .             . .               .             . .             . .     38 

Improvement  of  Soils          . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             14 

Irises              . .              . .  . .             . .               .             . .             . .     37 

flag-leaved  . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             34 

Iron  Rods  for  Flowers . .  . .             . .             . .             . .                     26 

Stakes  for  Roses       . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             64 

January,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..              ..             ..             ..    102 

list  of  Perennials  for  .«             . ,             . .             ..             22 

Jasmines        ..              ..  ..             ..             _.             ..             ..67 

to  increase  ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             31 

to  renew  the  Soil  for  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     68 

to  prune       . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             63 

devices  for  training  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     63 

Tonquils  . .              . .             . .  . .             . .             ...          . .             37 

fuly,  Monthly  Notice  for  .             ..             ..             ..             ..    ',07 

List  of  Perennials  for  «..             ..             ..                             2^ 


INDEX.  115 

June,  Monthly  Notice  for    ..  ••             •               t«             ••           107 

List  of  Perennials  for  . .             . .             .  •             . .     23 

Knob-rooted  Plants              . .  . .             . .               .              . .             30 

Ladies7  Garden  Fools                   «•  ••             ••             ••             ..16 

working  Dress           ..  ••             ..             ••             ..             17 

Lawn              ..             ..             ..  ..               .             ..             ..15 

Laurel         ..             ..             ..  . .             »,             ..             ..             70 

Laurel,  Portugal           . .              . .  . .             .  t             . .             . .     71 

Laurestinas            . .             . .  . .             . «             . .             . .             70 

Layering,  when  to  be  done         ..  ..             ..             ..             ..54 

Layers  of  Biennials              . .  . .             •  •             . .             . .             52 

of  Evergreens    ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..71 

of  Alaturnus,  &c.,  when  to  be  done       . .  . .             . .            72 

Lilies  of  the  Valley      . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .     34 

Management  of  . .             . .             . .             . .             39 

Orange                ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..40 

Guernsey  and  Belladonna  ..             ..              . .             . .             39 

Linen  as  a  covering,  advantages  of  ..             ..             ..             ..54 

List  of  Flowers  for  each  month  . .             . .             . .             . .             22 

hardy  Perennials               ..  ..             ..             ..             ..32 

Roses          . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             ...        66 

hardy  climbing  ditto         . .  ..             ..             ..             ..67 

bulbous  and  tuberous-rooted  Flowers    ..             ..             ..            41 

hardy  Biennials                 ..  ..             ..             ..             ..49 

London  Pride         . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             30 

Lychnis          ..            ..             ..  ..            ..            ..            ..34 

double  scarlet            ". .  . .             . .             . .                      28, 35 

Lychnidea      ..             ..             ..  ..             . .             ..             ..28 

March.  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..             ..           104 

List  of  Perennials  for        . .  . .             . .             . .             . .     22 

Martagons              ..             . .  . .             ..             . .             ..             40 

Marigolds       ..             ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..56 

May,  Monthly  Notice  for    ..  ..             ..             ..             ..           106 

List  of  Perennials  for        ..  ..            . .             ..             ..22 

Michaelmas  Daisy                .,  ..             ,t              ••             ..             34 

Mignionette                   ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..59 

Mildew                  ..             ..  ..             ..             ..                           26 

Monthly  Rose               ..             ..  ^..             ..             ..             ..65 


116  INDEX. 

Monthly  Rose,  noticed         . .  .  •             . .             .  •             .  t            76 

Remarks  on  . .             . .             •  •                             .14 

Moss  Roses            . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .            64 

Narcissus        . .             . .  .               . .             •  •             .  i             . .     37 

yellow  autumnal       . .  . .             •  •             •  •               •             37 

Neatness  essential  in  a  Garden  . .             •  •             •  •             •  •             . .     26 

Ni^ht  Stock          ..            ..  ..            ..            ..            ..            52 

November,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..              ..             ..110 

List  of  Perennials  for  . .             . .             .  •             . .             24 

October,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..   109 

List  of  Perennials  for  ..             ..             .  *             .  •             24 

Offsets  of  Perennials  and  Biennials  . .             . .             . .             . .     34 

Bulbs           ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             37 

Oil  paper  frames           ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..54 

Orange  Lilies        ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             40 

Orchis  tribe                   . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     38 

Pansies                    . .  '            . .  . .              . .              . .              . .             29 

Peonies           . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .               30, 34 

Perpetual  Rose      . .              . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             65 

Perennials      . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     27 

how  to  sow               . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             28 

now  to  propagate  *•             ••             ••             .*             ..28 

how  to  divide           . .  ..             ..             ..             ..             30 

when  to  add  soil  to  . .             . .             .  •             . .             . .     30 

list  of  hardy               . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             32 

Pe;secarias     ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..56 

Pinks      ..             ..'            ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             28 

general  management  of  . .             . .             . .             . .               29,  53 

Pickle  and  Brine  good  for  Flowers     . .  . .             . .             . .            51 

Pipings,  when  to  make  . .             . .             . .             . ,             . .     &4 

how  to  make            . .  . .               .             . .             . .            53 

Phyllerias      . .             . .  . .             . .             . .             . .               70,  72 

Planting  Beds        ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             21 

Shrubs,  method  of  . .             . .             . .             . .              69,  70 

Polyanthus             ..             ..  ..             ..             ..               .30,34 

Portugal  Laurel             ..  ..             ••             ..             ..             ..71 

Primroses               ..               .  ..             •.             ..             «.             30 

Piorvrgating  Biennials  ..             «.             ..             . .             . .     &* 


INDEX.  117 

Pyramid  of  Roses  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..             64 

Pyracantha     . .                .  . .              •  •              .  •              . .              t .     70 

Qualities  of  Pinks  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..             29 

Rabbits,  to  guard  against  . .             .  •             . .             •  •             . .     24 

Ranunculus            ..  ..             . ,             ..             ..             . .             46 

Remarks  on  Gardens    . .  . .             . .             . .             . .               .13 

Rockets,  double     . .  . .             .              . .             . .             . .            28 

Rods,  for  Flowers,  Iron  .  •             .  •             •  •             • .             . .     26 

Root- house,  to  construct  a  ..            •«             ••            ••             . .            19 

Rhododendrons              . .  . .             ..             ..             ..             ..71 

Roses      ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..            63 

monthly             ..  ..             ..             ..            ..             ..65 

Remarks  on  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .            15 

damask              ..  ..             ,,             ..             ..             ..63 

cabbage      ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..             64 

moss                  ..  ..             ,.             .,             ..             ..64 

standard      . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             .  *             65 

double  yellow    . .  . .             . ,             . .             . .             . .     65 

Austrian     ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..            65 

perpetual,  or  four-season  .  *             • .             • .             . .     65 

Ayrshire     ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..            66 

Lady  Banks       . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     66 

climbing     . .  .               . .             .  •             .  •             .  •             66 

soil  for               . .  . .             . .             . .             « •             . .     64 

when  and  how  to  prune  . .            •  •            . .            . .            64 

tolayer             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..     64 

disease  of  . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .             64 

pyramids  and  beds  of..  ..             ..             . .             ..64 

list  of           .  . .             .  •             < .             . .                       66,  67 

Rosa  hybrida  multiflora  . .             . .             . .             . .               .66 

Rustic  stages         ..  ..             ..             ..             . .             . .             15 

advantages  of    ..  ..             . .             . .             . .               .16 

Salt,  observations  on  ..             . •             ••             ••             •  •            39 

water  for  cuttings  . .             . .             •  •             •  •             . .     56 

Sand,  good  effects  of  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .       14,  21 

Saxifrage        . .             . .  . .             . .               .             . .               30, 34 

Seed  to  sow,  when  and  how,  Perennials  . .              .                     27,  28 

Bulb.  .  37 


J.I  8  INDEX. 

Seed,  Biennials      . .             . .  .  .                             . .             . .       4&,  4§ 

Annuals             .  •  .  •             %                               . .             . .     56 

how  to  prune             . .  . .                ,             . .             . .             59 

when  to  gather  ••             ..             ..             ..             •  •     52 

Seedlings,  when  to  remove  . .             . .             . .               •             28 

Pink  and  Carnation  . .             . .             . .             •  •             . .     27 

Seedling-bed,  to  protect  the  ..             ..             ..             .,             49 

September,  Monthly  Notice  for  ..             ..             ..             ..109 

List  of  Perennials  for  . .             . .             . .             . .             24 

Shrubs,  arrangement  of  ..             ..             . .             ..             ..69 

how  to  plant             . .  . .             .  •            •  •             . .            70 

when  to  transplant  ..             . .             . .             ,.              ..70 

to  make  cuttings  of  ..  ..             . .             . .             ..             72 

when  to  take  suckers  off  ••             ..             ••             ••72 

to  prune     ..              ..  . .              . .              . .              ».              75 

notices  of  several  ..             .               .             ..                 ..70 

list  of  deciduous         . .  . .             . ,"~            .  •             » ,             71 

evergreen           . .  . .             . .             . .             . .             . .     74 

Slipping,  how  t'>  perform     ..  . .             . .             ..             . .             54 

Snails,  to  destroy           ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..25 

Snowdrops         ...              . .  . .              . .              . .              , .              37 

Soapsuds,  to  use            ..  ..             ..             ••             ..               14,26 

Soils,  improvement  of          ..  .«             ..             ..             ..             13 

amelioration  of  ..             ..             . .             ,.             ..21 

Stages,,  rustic          ..             ..  ..             . .             ..             ..             15 

Staking  plants               ..  ..             ..             . .             ..             ..31 

Stocks,  ten- week                  ..  ••             ..             ..             ..56,59 

Stock,  gilliflower          ..  ..             ,.             ..             ..             ..50 

night           ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             ..             52 

Stony  ground,  to  manage  ..             .               ..             ..             ..14 

Sultan,  white  and  purple     . .  . .             . .             ..             ..             56 

Sunflower,  everlasting  ..             ..             ..             ..             ..34 

Sweet  Peas            . .             . .  . .             <, .             . ,             . .             58 

*o  raise  early                 ..  ..             ..                 ..             ..59 

Sweet-williams         . .             . .  . .         . .             .                  35,  SO.  53 

Thrift             ..             ..  ..              ..             ..             ..             ..30 

Tools,  Ladies' garden           ..  ..             ••             ..             •*             16 

Transplant  Perennial  and  Biennials,  when  to         . .  . .             . .     34 


INDEX.  119 

Trees,  to  ornament  the  trunks  of  . .             •  •               •             18 

Tuberous  root,  term  explained                  . .  • .                               .2*7 

rooted  Flowers          . .             . .  .  •             .  •               •             36 

rooted  Flowers  and  Bulbs,  list  of  . .  . .                             .41 

Tulips     ..             ..             ..             ,.            38 

Vei  is'  Look  ing-glass                  ..             ..  . .             . .             ..59 

Yeibena,  scarlet                    ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             33 

^iolets           ..             ..             ..   .          ..  ..             ..             ..     2S 

Wall-flowers         ..             ..             ..  ..             ..             ..             51 

Window  Gardening     ..            ..             .,  ..             .,             .71 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DIPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


JUL 1 1  tew 9 


IW 


, , 


REC'DLD  JUL  2  t\7\  -2PM  41 
APR  2  2 1976 


'S.     APR 


LD  21A-60m-10,'65 
(F7763slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


